American Mining Congress v. United States Environmental Protection Agency

965 F.2d 759 35 ERC 1032 , 60 USLW 2774 , 22 Envtl. L. Rep. 21,135 AMERICAN MINING CONGRESS; National Coal Association; National Council of Coal Lessors; National Aggregates Association; American Iron & Steel Institute, Petitioners, v. UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, Respondent. No. 91-70176. United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Argued and Submitted Oct. 9, 1991. Decided May 27, 1992. John A. Macleod, Crowell & Moring, Washington, D.C., for petitioners. Randolph L. Hill, E.P.A., Washington, D.C., for respondent. Petition for Review of a Rule Promulgated By The Environmental Protection Agency. Before PREGERSON, FERGUSON, and O'SCANNLAIN, Circuit Judges. FERGUSON, Circuit Judge: 1 The American Mining Congress ("AMC") challenges the Environmental Protection Agency's ("EPA's") recent Clean Water Act ("CWA") storm water discharge rule, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Application Regulations for Storm Water Discharges, 55 Fed.Reg. 47,990, 48,065 (1990) (to be codified at 40 C.F.R. § 122.26 (b)(14)(iii)), because it requires storm water discharge permits for "inactive mining operations." Id. at 48,065. AMC contends that the…