Campbell Soup Accused Of Polluting Lake Erie With Bacteria And Phosphorous Discharge
Campbell Soup faced legal action on Wednesday as both the Department of Justice and environmental organizations filed lawsuits against the company.
The allegations revolve around claims that its northwestern Ohio plant is responsible for polluting Lake Erie.
According to Reuters, the Department of Justice (DOJ) alleges that Campbell's has been breaching pollution regulations outlined in permits for its Napoleon factory along the Maumee River, a tributary to Lake Erie, since 2018. The violations reportedly involve excessive discharge of contaminants such as phosphorus and bacteria.
Hours after non-profit organizations Environment America and Lake Erie Waterkeeper filed a lawsuit against Campbell Soup in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, another lawsuit was filed in Toledo on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the federal Clean Water Act.
According to statements from the groups via email, the complaints allege that Campbell Soup has committed numerous Clean Water Act violations by releasing wastewater containing unlawfully high concentrations of phosphorus, a key chemical contributing to the formation of algal blooms in Lake Erie, along with E. coli bacteria, oil and grease, suspended solids, and other detrimental pollutants.
Following receipt of the law center's notice of intent to sue in July 2023, Campbell Soup has reportedly engaged in ongoing communication with the National Environmental Law Center and the DOJ to delineate initiatives aimed at rectifying permit compliance issues.
A representative from Campbell Soup emphasized the seriousness with which the company regards this matter.
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"We will continue to take immediate action to address this and have capital investments planned to resolve this issue permanently," the spokesperson claimed. "We will continue to work with regulators and other stakeholders to improve our operations and comply with all environmental regulations."
