The Virginia Association of Municipal Wastewater Agencies and several of its members have filed suit against Virginia to challenge expectations in Virginia’s Watershed Implementation Plan of additional pollution reductions from sewage treatment plants. On Friday, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) and James River Association (JRA) filed court papers asking to join the litigation defending Virginia and its plan.
CBF Virginia Executive Director Peggy Sanner issued the following statement.
“Virginia’s Watershed Implementation Plan, building on decades of hard work and measurable progress, lays out a sound and achievable roadmap for meeting the Commonwealth’s commitments to restore the Chesapeake Bay and its local streams.
“Cleaning up our waterways depends on everyone doing their fair share. That means sewage treatment plants enhancing pollution reduction equitably across Virginia, cities and towns reducing stormwater runoff, and farmers implementing more practices to reduce pollution.
“CBF is supporting Virginia’s efforts to vigorously defend its plan in the face of this challenge.”
JRA James Riverkeeper and Senior Advocacy Manager Jamie Brunkow issued the following statement:
"Despite substantial pollution reductions over the past decade, municipal sewage plants continue to be a leading source of pollution in the James River.
“Virginia's Watershed Implementation Plan recognizes the need to achieve further improvements to sewage treatment, which will benefit the James River and all of the surrounding communities. We must ensure that Virginia's plan stays on track as we approach the 2025 deadline."
