EPA reconsiders stormwater discharge caps

The Environmental Protection Agency last Wednesday decided to reconsider the imposition of a nationwide cap on how much sediment can be part of the stormwater draining from a construction site, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

The agency's announcement comes more than 18 months after NAHB sued EPA over its first proposal to develop a numeric limit for the turbidity, or cloudiness, of stormwater discharges, which the EPA voluntarily withdrew, recognizing that it was not legally defensible.

In addition, NAHB estimated that attempting to comply with the regulations would carry a $10 billion annual price tag, stunting new home production and forcing costs up for home buyers.

The agency announced that it still could not justify any specific limit and will start over again. EPA will talk to home builders, environmental scientists and other members of the public to gather better data.

For more information: www.nahb.org/news_details.aspx?newsID=13216