Closing the Clean Water Gap
CLF has pushed the EPA to hold large property owners along the Charles, Mystic, and Neponset rivers accountable for their water pollution.
CLF has pushed the EPA to hold large property owners along the Charles, Mystic, and Neponset rivers accountable for their water pollution.
“The ongoing turf war between these two state agencies is harming water quality in Vermont,” said Elena Mihaly, Vice President of CLF Vermont. “Farmers have made great progress reducing pollution from their properties, but that progress is being hindered by this irreparable bureaucratic conflict. The Agency of Natural Resources should be solely responsible for overseeing the Clean Water Act, and we’re asking the EPA to make sure that happens.”
“Properties have been given free rein to dump toxic pollutants into the Mystic and Neponset Rivers for too long,” said Heather Govern, Director of CLF’s Clean Air and Water program. “Communities surrounding the Mystic and Neponset already see far more than their share of pollution, and toxic algae outbreaks only add insult to injury. It’s time EPA hold these polluters accountable and ensure residents have access to clean and healthy rivers.”
“Vermont cannot be a champion of conservation when state authorities are giving towns the green light to dump more toxic pollution into Lake Champlain,” said Elena Mihaly, Staff Attorney, Conservation Law Foundation. “Lake Champlain is a natural treasure and economic driver for Vermont and it is the agency’s obligation to protect our waters. Granting permits that will increase pollution flowing into this iconic lake is irresponsible, reckless, and unlawful.”
Water was a hot topic of the 2018 Vermont legislative session, with many bills that touched on clean water challenges. We made some progress, but we’re still too far behind when it comes to the long-term funding we need to make true progress on cleaning up Lake Champlain and other ailing waters across the state.
If there’s one thing that most Vermonters can agree on, it’s that Lake Champlain is in trouble. The iconic lake is central to Vermont’s identity and its tourism economy. It provides drinking water and feeds thirsty farms throughout its large watershed. It’s also dying a slow death due to unchecked pollution. How to stop that… Continue reading Saving Lake Champlain
Pollution from the massive development at the former Fort Devens is endangering the iconic Nashua River. CLF is working to ensure that Devens follows through with its legal requirements to monitor and prevent pollution. And we are making sure that Devens lives up to its own advertising and does not miss out on the opportunity to be a true model for new development.
CLF’s primary goals in Vermont this legislative session were to secure clean water funding and fight against attempts to weaken our water protections. Here is a list of our wins and losses for this year.
Money has been a big part of the clean water conversation at the Vermont State House this year. In January, State Treasurer Beth Pearce put a price tag of $62 million per year for the next 20 years on the efforts needed to reach our clean water goals. A week later, Governor Phil Scott announced that… Continue reading We Need to Fully Fund Clean Water in Vermont Now