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By Kenric Ward | Watchdog.org Virginia Bureau
Virginia’s environmental director testified Thursday that states should assume responsibility for enforcing a key section of the Clean Water Act.
David Paylor, head of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, told the U.S. House water resources and environment subcommittee that states “define their waters more broadly than the Clean Water Act” and “would provide a streamlined one-stop permitting experience which removes duplication and regulatory redundancy.”
“The program could be administered by most states at significantly less cost,” said Paylor, who is also vice chair of the Environmental Council of the States Water Committee.
The House is considering legislation that would empower states to assume a wider role in water-quality enforcement. See this story for details.
Read a transcript of Paylor’s remarks here.
