EPA Facing Trouble Over Clean Water Act and Ballast Water Permits

Appeals court rules unanimously that EPA fell short of protecting waters from ballast discharge and invasive species

Conservation organizations are celebrating a huge win. The U.S. Court of Appeals has ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency failed its responsibility under the Clean Water Act to protect U.S. waters from aquatic invasive species introduced by ballast water discharge. The ruling involves a permit that gives ships permission to dump water in many U.S. waterways. Nick Shroeck is director of the Transnational Environmental Law Clinic at Wayne State University. Amy Miller asked him about the ruling and its implications.

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