New York State isn't taking the steps it should to address one of the biggest source of water pollution: stormwater runoff.

Stormwater runoff prevents the safe use of parts of Long Island Sound for recreation and fishing.So says the state Supreme Court, which ruled this week that the Department of Environmental Conservation has been too lax in enforcing permits issued to municipalities that allow them to discharge runoff into rivers, streams, lakes and the ocean.

NRDC -- which, along with a coalition of environmental groups, filed suit back in 2010 -- reports that the Westchester County Supreme Court ordered the state to fix several major flaws in its permits, to ensure all Clean Water Act requirements are met. 

Specifically, the court found there was a lack of state oversight (municipalities can "self-certify" their work, rather than getting state approval), no firm timeline for addressing pollution requirements and a lack of public participation in the permitting process.

The Environmental Protection Agency is developing rules to set national standards for stormwater runoff, but those rules have been repeatedly delayed.