Although methane itself is not regulated as a water pollutant, the study could lead to federal regulation of the heretofore largely unregulated practice of the hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, of deep layers of shale to tap vast reservoirs of natural gas in the United States.

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Also in Virginia a federal judge ruled that the EPA did not have the authority to declare storm water a pollutant.

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However, on January 3, a federal court ruled that that the EPA could not treat storm water as a pollutant under the Clean Water Act.

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The gauges are used to monitor water and pollutant levels.

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In other words, instead of regulating the sediment directly, EPA decided that water was a pollutant.

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