EPA has already been found guily of over extending it's authority, as there will here too, I supsect. Even so, these new rules can't, IMO, last any longer than the current Administration.
Meanwhile, this proposal is not likely to hinder LBSR exploration drilling, nor some other near term advancements leading to eventual production, IMO.
Here's what I think is a biased news story that also never mentions mining.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/othervoices/hunting-and-fishing-groups-speak-out-for-epa-clean-water/article_5c29040a-0fb7-11e5-a67d-db9dc166eb2e.html
...in somewhat related news, and with mention of the Pebble Mine, see
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2015/06/22/illegal-epa-scheming-on-private-email-extended-to-ghg-rules/
VP