NEW: Newport Agrees To Spend Millions After Violating Clean Water Act
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Newport has agreed to spend about $25 million to eliminate illegal discharges of sewage into Narragansett Bay from its wastewater treatment plant and wastewater collection system; reduce the pollutants associated with storm sewer discharges to Easton’s Beach; purchase and distribute rain barrels to residents in order to capture stormwater for reuse; and take other actions to encourage low impact development, according to a settlement reached with U.S. Department of Justice.
The settlement is the result of a federal and state enforcement action brought by the U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of the EPA, the State of Rhode Island through the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, and the National Environmental Law Center on behalf of Environment Rhode Island and certain Rhode Island citizens. The groups claimed the city was in violated of the Clean Water Act.
“Today’s agreement will help eliminate harmful overflows of sewage and stormwater by requiring comprehensive improvements to Newport’s aging sewer system – improvements that are required in order to bring the city into compliance with the Clean Water Act,” said Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Today, Newport joins a growing list of cities across the country that have met the challenge of upgrading their systems, and in doing so are improving public health and the environment for their residents.”
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTJohn Rumpler, senior attorney for Environment Rhode Island, said Newport’s decision will benefit future generations.
“Newport’s waters are treasured by all Rhode Islanders – they are vital to our ecology, economy, and quality of life,” he said “The city’s decision to take responsibility for ending its pollution will be appreciated for generations to come.”
