"House Democrats are questioning the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over a March memo in which the agency said it may not seek penalties against companies that don’t monitor their pollution during the coronavirus pandemic."
"EPA is pushing back against mounting criticism from congressional Democrats that the agency is 'suspending enforcement of environmental laws' during the COVID-19 pandemic."
"Clean Water Act attorneys have a new permitting guidepost after the Supreme Court on Thursday struck a middle ground in a landmark case on federal water protections. The justices in a 6-3 opinion ruled that polluters must get permits for indirect water contamination that’s the “functional equivalent” of a direct discharge into federal waterways."
"Two bipartisan draft water infrastructure bills unveiled this week by the Senate environment committee are a good start but will need even more funding in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, water agencies and other groups said Wednesday."
"The oil and gas industry is holding thousands of unused drilling permits on federal lands even as Interior Department field office employees say permitting wells has crowded out other responsibilities, according to a government watchdog."
"Lawmakers on the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee have announced two pieces of draft legislation that together would invest $19.5 billion into the country’s water infrastructure."
"Former EPA science experts and nonprofit groups today came one step closer to striking down a policy limiting membership on the agency's advisory committees."
"EPA published its Navigable Waters Protection Rule in the Federal Register this morning .... Publication starts a 60-day clock before the rule goes into effect and waves a green flag for an onslaught of lawsuits likely to be filed around the country. The litigation will undoubtedly run beyond Election Day, so the future of the rule likely depends on whether Trump wins a second term."
"A coal mining company with ties to Scott Pruitt, and a handful of companies serving the oil and natural gas industry, are among the beneficiaries of a loan program Congress established to help small businesses get through the coronavirus pandemic."
"Opponents of the Pebble Mine lost one of their lawsuits Friday, when a federal court judge ruled against them."
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