M’m! M’m! Good! That’s what boating and fishing interests on Lake Erie are cheering today, but they aren’t cheering about Campbell’s soup. They’re applauding lawsuits filed by two environmental advocacy groups and one federal government agency against the Campbell Soup Co.
Two separate suits have been filed against New Jersey-based Campbell and its production plant in Napoleon, Ohio, one of the company’s largest facilities.
One suit was filed by the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Clean Water Act. Hours earlier, the non-profits Environment America and the Lake Erie Waterkeeper filed suit in federal court in Toledo, Ohio,
The suits contend the company has been discharging high levels of phosphorous, E. coli bacteria, oil and grease into Ohio’s Maumee River, which feeds western Lake Erie, and has caused years of harmful algal blooms.
“The toxic algae in Lake Erie is hardly the kind of soup we want from a company like Campbell,” one environmentalist noted.
“We support all serious actions to reduce the algae blooms that annually plague western Lake Erie, trigger a sizable dead zone in the central part of our lake, and threaten safe recreational boating and fishing for our families,” said Michelle Burke, president of the Ohio Marine Trades Association.
The lawsuits allege that Campbell has committed thousands of Clean Water Act violations by “discharging wastewater with illegally high levels of phosphorous, the prime chemical contributor to the algae blooms.” While Campbell does have discharge permits, the DOJ complaint alleges the plant has violated these permits “thousands of times.”
The food and beverage producer said in response to the suits that it takes this matter “very seriously.” The lawsuits, which will likely be consolidated, are asking the court to force Campbell to upgrade the plant’s wastewater treatment facility, and order fines for more than 5,000 violations. The permit violations reportedly can carry penalties as high as $64,618 each.
Lake Erie is the southernmost of the five Great Lakes and covers about 9,900 square miles. It is the warmest lake, stretches 240 miles from southwest to northeast, and is considered the best of the lakes for fishing. It’s also the source of drinking water for millions of people.
The western basin, bordered by Ohio and Michigan, comprises about a third of the lake. And it’s the location of the Lake Erie Islands, a popular summer boating area. Indeed, Lake Erie is a prime reason Ohio boasts more than 660,000 registered boats.
Ohio’s boating organizations have been calling for more action by state and federal agencies to implement programs, regulations and policies that will reduce the algae blooms. The Clean Water Act has accomplished much during the 50-plus years since its passage. Still, waterways around the nation, like Lake Erie, have unresolved problems that clearly call for more aggressive actions, even if by lawsuits when applicable.
