EPA sued for failure to clean up Chesapeake Bay

A conservation group called the Chesapeake Bay Foundation has the mission statement stating: The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) fights for strong and effective laws and regulations.

Apparently, sometimes they fight the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, too.

It appears that they are currently suing the EPA to force them to clean up Chesapeake Bay.

A conservation group filed a federal lawsuit Monday to force the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to enforce the law and clean up the polluted Chesapeake Bay, citing 25 years of failure to restore the nation's largest estuary.

The lawsuit asserts that the EPA's failure to meet its obligations "has led to the continued degradation of water quality in the Chesapeake Bay," harming natural resources and the residents who depend on them.

I have never been to Chesapeake Bay so I have no idea how polluted it is, but the article makes it clear that the EPA has seriously dropped the ball when it comes to doing their job.

Foundation attorney Jon Mueller said the lawsuit alleges the EPA's administrator has failed to comply with a congressional mandate to clean up the bay as specified in agreements signed in 1983, 1987 and 2000. The lawsuit also alleges agency actions were "unreasonably withheld," and the EPA has failed to meet established deadlines.

The article goes on to note that both commercial and sports fishing groups are joining in the lawsuit as have former Maryland Governor Harry Hughes. If you are interested in helping the CBF fight the EPA, please check out the CBF website.