EPA Orders Hawaii to Reexamine Plastic Pollution in State Waters

The EPA has withdrawn its approval of Hawaii’s list of impaired waters under the Clean Water Act and ordered the state to evaluate all available water quality data for plastics following a lawsuit filed by environmental groups.

The Center for Biological Diversity, Surfrider Foundation, and Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii said in their lawsuit filed in February that the EPA failed to consider microplastics pollution when approving Hawaii’s lists sent to the agency in violation of the Clean Water Act and the Administrative Procedure Act.

The groups have now agreed with the EPA to stay the case until July, according to a ...