By Maria Hickey, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – The EPA will have to issue or deny a Clean Air permit for a hazardous waste incinerator in the Metro East, according to a federal judge's order this week.
The judge on Tuesday denied the EPA's motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by two environmental groups and set a court date to resolve the case.
The former Onyx Facility in the Metro-East town of Sauget, which is now owned by Veolia Environmental Services, applied for the permit in 1995. However, the EPA has not issued or denied the permit.
The Illinois Sierra Club and American Bottom Conservancy sued to try to force a decision.
"The judge told the EPA administrator to show up in court in Chicago to tell him when, not if, but when the EPA is going to issue or deny the permit," said Verena Owen, with the Sierra Club, who expressed relief that the EPA is being ordered to move forward.
That court date is set for June 21st.
The Department of Justice is handling the case for the EPA. A spokeswoman said she could not comment until the department files its response to the judge's order.