EPA Sued Over ‘Burdensome’ Washington Water Standards (1)

Business groups and trade associations sued the Environmental Protection Agency over a final rule that they say imposed water quality standards for Washington state that are impossible to achieve.

The EPA’s action was a complete reversal of a previous agency decision, was made without adequate justification, and should be vacated, the Association of Washington Business, the American Forest & Paper Association, and others told the US District Court for the District of Columbia on Monday.

The rule, which went into effect Dec. 19, 2022, finalized human health criteria to further protect Washington’s waters, including those where tribes hold treaty-reserved ...