The Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental lobby group based in California, has issued a formal letter to the US Environmental Protection Agency, informing the Agency of its intention to sue for violations of Section 304 of the Clean Water Act in relation to pollution by black carbon.
Some media sources have reported that the letter refers to carbon black, but readers should note that “black carbon” is not synonymous with “carbon black.” Black carbon is soot released into the atmosphere by the incomplete combustion of fuels or biomass, whereas carbon black is an industrial filler and pigment manufactured from heavy residual fuel oil.