The NY Times compiled what appears to be the most organized and user friendly database on water quality violations from around the country. A database was put together by state that shows which dischargers have violated their Clean Water Act permits most frequently, and how much they have been fined by regulators. The point of the article is that often these fines amount to $0 even with all the frequent violations. State and federal regulators, especially the EPA has vowed to crack down on violators. Coal waste was found to be the most egregious problem in West Virginia where human health has been frequently compromised and state regulators there have been unable to make much headway in terms of compliance and fining violators. Of course Utah has a large coal industry but since its all underground the effects would seem to be less since they don’t do mountain top removal here.