Napoleon, OH – Campbell Soup Supply Company has admitted to over 5,400 violations of the Clean Water Act, stemming from wastewater discharges into the Maumee River in Northwest Ohio, according to a report by WTOL. The discharges, which connect to Lake Erie, contained undisclosed pollutants and allegedly fueled toxic algae blooms, threatening drinking water and wildlife.
The lawsuit alleges years of illegal dumping by the company’s Napoleon facility. As part of a joint stipulation, Campbell’s has agreed not to contest liability for the violations and acknowledges harm to citizen groups. this allows those groups to pursue enforcement alongside the government.
“We appreciate Campbell’s willingness to work cooperatively with us and the federal government to solve its compliance problems, rather than spending time and effort contesting clear-cut violations of the Clean Water Act,” stated John Rumpler, Clean Water Program Director for Environment Ohio.
Rumpler added, “Campbell’s admission that it committed these violations will speed this case toward a trial that will decide what steps the company must take to curb its pollution and how large a civil penalty should be imposed. That’s great news for the people who live along the Maumee River and Lake Erie.”
Sandy Bihn, the Lake Erie Waterkeeper, believes this could be a turning point for watershed restoration, stating, ”Bringing an end to Campbell’s violations will help water quality in the river and Lake erie, and demonstrates the power citizen enforcement suits have to drive meaningful environmental progress.”
The next phase will determine a penalty requiring waste emission reductions and financial repercussions for the years of discharges.Officials anticipate a trial sometime next year.
Campbell Soup Supply Company issued a statement to WTOL, saying, “We have taken a number of steps to improve our operations and comply with environmental regulations. We have been part of the Napoleon community as 1938 and our goal is to reach a settlement that serves the interest of the environment and the community were our employees live and work. Importantly, the facility has had minimal, if any, adverse effects on the Maumee river or Lake Erie.”