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U.S. environmental group the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) has sued the government's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over failure to deliver on promises to clean up the polluted bay.
Img: Chesapeake Bay sunrise. Credit: jimbrickett/flickr
A statement released by the foundation said the lawsuit had asked the Federal Court to enforce laws and regulations governing the clean up of the bay and the promised lowering of pollution levels by the EPA.
"We have asked that EPA accept its responsibility under the Clean Water Act," said CBF president William C. Baker. "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 added. "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."
The CBF has referred to three separate agreements signed between the EPA and the Bay states, the most recent being the Chesapeake 2000 concord, which agreed to reduce pollution to levels that enable the Bay to be removed from the federal ‘impaired waters’ list by 2010.
According to the CBF press statement, the EPA has acknowledged this target will not be met.
"Over the last eight years the EPA, which has the responsibility to lead the effort to enforce the Clean Water Act, has abdicated leadership and weakened regulations that would have reduced pollution," said Baker.
"The rule of science and the rule of law have been subjugated to political dogma and a policy of deregulation that has wreaked havoc from financial markets to environmental protection," he added. "Science has provided a roadmap for Bay restoration and EPA has the tools to get the job done. The Bay is still polluted due to the lack of political will."
Baker said there was hope for change under a new Obama administration and added the lawsuit would put "...Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts directly in front of the new EPA Administrator."
"The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure. We believe that through this lawsuit, it can also become a model for pollution reduction and the restoration of water quality across the nation," he added.
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