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State regulators are moving forward with plans to make it easier for industry to remove important drinking-water protections for West Virginia's rivers and streams.
Department of Environmental Protection officials hope to issue a formal proposal this summer, and seek legislative approval in next year's session.
The agency is responding to years of complaints from industry lobbyists, who don't like West Virginia's long-standing policy of protecting all streams as possible drinking water sources.
DEP officials are hoping to clarify that policy, and at the same time head off an effort for broader changes by business groups.
"We think it's a good way to balance all of this," DEP lawyer Karen Watson said at a Wednesday meeting called to discuss the agency proposal.
Historically, state regulators have mandated that all streams statewide be designated as drinking water sources, even if no one was using them as such.
Under the law, streams that are designated for use as drinking water must meet tighter water quality standards.
Full Story: http://sundaygazettemail.com/News/200804300675
