June 19, 2002—The US Army Corps of Engineers recently announced that it is adopting the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) approach to the Clean Water Act’s definition of “fill material,” which has been in place since 1977. The regulation will prohibit the dumping of trash or garbage in wetlands or streams.
In addition, the agencies will apply new conditions to permits issued to regulate the placement of dirt and rock from mountaintop mining in streams. The US Department of Interior is also developing regulations intended to improve environmental protection by reducing the volume of mining discharges in streams. The department’s Office of Surface Mining will be proposing changes to its regulations intended to ensure that mining discharges in streams are reduced in both size and number.
