WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE - Standards, Give-Aways And Taxing Users?

(02/27/2003)

By Bob Weaver An environmental group is suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over the lack of water quality rules in West Virginia. The West Virginia Rivers Coalition says EPA has not acted quickly enough on water quality rules the state submitted for review in 2001. West Virginia approved the sale of West Virginia/American Water to a German corporation, although the state has yet to develop use rules for the abundant water supply in the state's mountains. Public interest groups believe the lack of water use laws, the water supply will go the same way as the state's other natural resources, with little benefit to residents. The Legislature, however, has considered taxing water users as a way of raising revenue for the shortfalls besetting the state. The water quality lawsuit was filed in US District Court in Philadelphia, the city where EPA's Region Three office is located. The group wants a judge to order EPA to draft standards for West Virginia to follow.

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