Environmental groups seek to force federal regulation of clean water in Ky., W. Va.

Jan 07 - Lexington Herald-Leader (KY)

Environmental groups are trying to force federal regulators to respond to a demand that they stop letting state officials in Kentucky and West Virginia enforce federal clean-water rules.

Several groups argue the two states have done a bad job enforcing the rules related to surface coal mining, resulting in widespread degradation of waterways.

Regulators in Kentucky , West Virginia and other states have authority to enforce federal rules on discharges of pollution from mines, with oversight from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency .

Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, the Sierra Club and other groups asked the EPA several years ago to rescind Kentucky and West Virginia's authority over the discharge program, which would affect industries other than coal mining.

However, the EPA did not respond to those requests as required, according to a news release issued Wednesday by the environmental groups.

The groups said they had filed lawsuits in federal court in Kentucky and West Virginia seeking to compel answers from the EPA .

Kentucky regulators have not responded to the lawsuit, but contend that they adequately enforces clean-water rules.

"Although we have not seen the actual documents, we believe we are implementing the delegated programs appropriately and in accordance with state and federal requirements," said Dick Brown , spokesman for the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet.

Bill Estep : (606) 678-4655. Twitter: @billestep1

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