Frustration over Chesapeake Bay moves to federal court
January 6th, 2009 by cdunaganAs expected, and reported here in October, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation has reached the end of its rope, filing a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to enforce the Clean Water Act.
CBF President William C. Baker said the only reasonable way to clean up the bay is by getting the EPA to take firm enforcement action against polluters. For those of us in the Puget Sound region, see my entry about the lessons that can be learned from the Chesapeake.
“We have asked that EPA accept its responsibility under the Clean Water Act,” Baker said in a prepared statement. “EPA must impose a legally binding pollution reduction budget (or cap) that will restore water quality,”
“While discussions have occurred, we have not been able to resolve our claims during the 60-day notice period,” he continued. “Despite EPA’s assertions to the contrary, CBF believes that after 25 years of failed policies the only way to ensure that EPA does its job is to have a court order requiring it.”
Baker also has recorded a video message for supporters of the bay.
Sara Michael, a reporter with the Baltimore Examiner, quoted Benjamin Grumbles, EPA’s assistant administrator for water, as saying the agency is committed to working with its partners to clean up the Bay.
“We’ve had several good discussions with CBF on ways to accelerate and sustain progress recently,” Grumbles said in a statement, “and we hope the lawsuit doesn’t divert energy and attention away from the Bay’s watersheds and tributaries to courtrooms and lawyers.”
A copy of the lawsuit (4.9 mb) can be download from the CBF Web site.
Supporters of the lawsuit and advocates for bay cleanup are interviewed in audio files that can be downloaded from the CBF Web site. Speakers include Ken Smith, president of the Virginia State Waterman’s Association; Bernie Fowler, retired Maryland senator; and Harry Hughes, former governor of Maryland.
Tags: Chesapeake Bay, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Environmental Protection Agency
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