Pruit Claims He Got Tough On Polluters: Actually Asked For Delay In Water Phosphorous Limits
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In 2009, EPA refused to approve a five-year permit for a wastewater treatment plant in Bentonville, Ark., because it did not include the requisite reduction of phosphorus releases after 2012. EPA officials wrote they believed the reduction was "necessary to protect the water quality of the receiving stream from any discharges" from the plant.
The 2013 agreement Pruitt described to the Senate committee came after the deadline for the final phosphorus reduction had passed. Instead of holding Arkansas to its commitment by filing a permit challenge or asking EPA to intervene, Pruitt instead signed a new agreement to delay the phosphorus reduction for three more years while an independent party studied phosphorus levels in the Illinois River.
Under that deal, the two states committed to adhere to whatever recommendations the study made regarding in-river phosphorus levels that were more than 0.1 milligram per liter different from the previously agreed-to standard of 0.37 milligram per liter. Unlike the original agreement, the second deal did not include any commitments regarding individual wastewater treatment plants, nor did it specify whether those plants would be required to further reduce their phosphorus outputs once the three-year study was completed.
Pruitt has offered multiple reasons for entering into the second agreement.
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http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060049340