Environmental Petitioners ask Second Circuit for Rehearing

Environmental Petitioners yesterday (April 14, 2005) asked the Second Circuit for a rehearing on a critical element of the court's February 28, 2005 decision on EPA's 2003 CAFO Rulemaking. Waterkeeper Alliance, Inc. et al. v. EPA, (No. 03-4470, et al.). The pleading asks the court to overturn its decision that CAFOs do not have a "duty to apply" for an NPDES permit. The pleading also asks the court — if it refuses to reverse itself on the "duty to apply" issue — to require CAFOs to have an approved nutrient management plan in an NPDES permit to qualify for the "agricultural stormwater" exemption from NPDES permitting.