States, Groups Sue EPA, Claiming Failure To Enforce Bay Cleanup Plan

"The Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Maryland sued the Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday, claiming the agency failed to enforce bay cleanup goals for New York and Pennsylvania.

In separate lawsuits filed in federal court, the Annapolis-based foundation and Maryland allege that the EPA allowed the states to fall short of cleanup targets first set in 2010 by a multi-state agreement authorized through the U.S. Clean Water Act.

The lawsuits by the foundation and Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh argue that the EPA wrongly approved clean up plans for both states in December when it should have forced them to meet clean up goals for nitrogen and phosphorus, two major pollutants in the bay. Early this year, a top EPA official said the goals were now considered “aspirational” rather than enforceable."

Rachael Pacella reports for the Capital Gazette September 10, 2020.

SEE ALSO:

"Lawsuit: EPA Fails To Enforce Chesapeake Bay Pollution Caps" (AP)

"Mid-Atlantic States Sue EPA over Chesapeake Bay Pollution" (The Hill)

Source: Capital Gazette, 09/11/2020