Napoleon, OH – โขCampbellโฃ Soupโฃ Supply Company has admitted to over 5,400 violations of the Clean Water Act, stemming from wastewater discharges โinto the Maumee River in โขNorthwest Ohio, according to a report by WTOL. The discharges, which connect to Lake Erie, contained undisclosed pollutants and allegedlyโค fueled toxic algae blooms, threatening drinking water and wildlife.
The lawsuit alleges years ofโข illegal dumping by the company’s Napoleon facility. Asโ part of a joint stipulation, Campbell’s has agreed not to contestโ liability for the violations and acknowledgesโข harm to citizen โขgroups. โthis allows those groups toโ pursue enforcement alongside the โgovernment.
“We appreciate Campbell’sโค willingness to work cooperatively with us and the federal government to solve itsโ compliance problems, rather than spending time and effort contesting clear-cut violationsโค of the Clean Waterโข Act,” stated John Rumpler, Clean Water Program Director for Environment Ohio.
Rumpler added, “Campbell’s admission that itโ committed โขthese violations will speed this case towardโ a trial that will decide what steps โขthe company โฃmust take to โcurb itsโ 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.”
Sandyโ Bihn, the Lake Erieโ Waterkeeper, believes this could beโ a turning point for watershed restoration, stating, โ”Bringingโ an end to Campbell’s violations will help water quality inโ the river and Lake erie, and demonstrates the power citizen enforcement suits have to drive meaningful environmentalโ progress.”
The next phase โwill determine a penalty requiring waste emission reductions and financial repercussions for the years of discharges.Officialsโ anticipate a trial sometimeโฃ next โขyear.
Campbell Soup Supply Company issued aโค statement to WTOL, saying, “We have taken a โขnumber of steps to improve our operations and comply with environmental regulations. We have been part โขof the Napoleon community as 1938 and our goal isโข to reachโข a settlement that serves the interest of the environment andโ the communityโ were ourโฃ employees live and work. Importantly, the facility has had minimal, if any, adverse effectsโ on the Maumee river or Lake Erie.”