A public interest law firm and a group of citizens on Thursday asked Cathy Stepp, regional administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to step aside from any involvement in the federal agency’s ongoing review of Wisconsin’s water pollution program. Stepp, a Republican, oversaw all environmental regulations in Wisconsin, including water issues, as secretary of the Department of Natural Resources from 2011 until August of last year. She was appointed to the post by Gov. Scott Walker. The EPA has been monitoring the state’s water program for years. In July 2011, the federal agency cited 75 shortcomings, or deficiencies, and ordered the DNR to fix the problems within two years. Some matters date back to before the start of the Walker administration. The deficiencies largely involve technical issues designed to assure Wisconsin is properly enforcing water regulations. The issues range from allowable limits for pollutants and management of storm water to an examination of whether the DNR has adequate state authority to carry out its work. Frustrated by the pace of the state’s response, Midwest Environmental Advocates and a group of 16 citizens asked the EPA in October 2015 to conduct a formal review of the DNR’s water pollution program. The groups filed what is known as a petition for corrective action that could strip the DNR of its oversight of state water programs, if the EPA concluded that the state’s efforts were falling short. In October 2016, EPA personnel inspected DNR records at its headquarters in Madison as part…

Water supply resumed Monday evening in Kilifi and Mombasa after Kilifi County Government moved to pay a Sh21 million electricity bill. The one week water crisis was caused by Kenya Power’s decision to cut supply over a Sh42 million debt owed by Mombasa and Kilifi counties. The situation had threatened to worsen an upsurge of diseases in Mombasa – which is still recovering from recent chikungunya, dengue fever and cholera outbreaks – and negatively affect tourism prospects. Coast Water Services Board (CWSB) chair, Sureya Hersi, said Tuesday morning that pumping of water resumed following a meeting with Kilifi governor Amason Kingi at his office in Kilifi town on Monday. “Water is now running. Pumping resumed after power was reconnected at the Baricho water works after the governor announced his administration had initiated the payment of the outstanding electricity bill. We…