Syllabus

This is a petition for review filed by the Defenders of Wildlife and the Sierra Club ("petitioners") seeking review of certain issues related to U.S. EPA Region IX's issuance of five National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System ("NPDES") permits on February 14, 1997. The permits would authorize storm water discharges from the municipal separate storm sewer systems of the City of Tucson, Pima County, the City of Phoenix, the City of Mesa, and the City of Tempe ("permittees").