ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP APPEALS CRITICAL DISTRICT COURT ONRW RULING

Environmentalists are appealing a recent U.S. district court decision upholding EPA's claim that the federal agency had no obligation to designate a state's waters as an outstanding natural resource waters (ONRW). Several observers note that the case is important because litigation remains one of the few tools environmentalists can use to get these special designations -- intended to maintain the quality of pristine waters. The concern of states like Michigan is that designating a water body as an ONRW could...