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Lake cleanup group appeals state wastewater plant permits

Environmental group says Lake Champlain cleanup should not begin with more phosphorus discharge

Lake cleanup group appeals state wastewater plant permits

Environmental group says Lake Champlain cleanup should not begin with more phosphorus discharge

WEBVTT -- 123,000 DOLLARS.THE CONSERVATION LAW FOUNDATIONTODAY IS CHALLENGING NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY PERMITSGRANTED FOUR TOWNS -- TO UPGRADETHEIR SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS. THE GROUP FILED NEW LEGALAPPEALS WITH THE STATEENVIRONMENTAL COURT CHALLENGING PERMITS FOR ALBURGH, SAINT ALBANS, MONTPELIER,AND SOUTH BURLINGTON.>> THESE MUNICIPALITIES AREDEFENDING A SITUATION WHERE WEARE BEHIND THE TIMES IN TERMS OFAVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY, AND ANAPPROACH ALL ABOUT DUMPINGALEUTIAN INTO THE LAKE.THAT IS NOT THE WAY TO TAKE AFIRST STEP TOWARD GETTING THISLAKE CLEAN, WHEN WE HAVE THEKINDS OF CONDITIONS WE ARESEEING.CLF SAYS THE SCOTTADMINISTRATION WOULD ALLOW ADOUBLING OF PHOSPHORUSDISCHARGES FROM THE NEW PLANTSINTO LAKE CHAMPLAIN. THEY SAY IT'S CRAZY TO DO THATUNLESS -- AND UNTIL -- WE SEEREDUCTIONS IN PHOSPHORUS FROMOTHER SOURCES -- LIKE ROAD ANDFARM RUNOFF.
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Lake cleanup group appeals state wastewater plant permits

Environmental group says Lake Champlain cleanup should not begin with more phosphorus discharge

The Conservation Law Foundation is challenging new permits the Agency of Natural Resources has awarded four municipalities for sewage treatment plant projects. CLF is asking a state environmental judge for a hearing because all four allow substantially more phosphorus discharge into rivers and ultimately Lake Champlain than is currently allowed.The permits cover projects in St. Albans, South Burlington, Alburgh and Montpelier though lawyer Chris Kilian suggested this was only the first of more challenges the group plans to file over pollution that plagues many areas of the Lake Champlain basin.

The Conservation Law Foundation is challenging new permits the Agency of Natural Resources has awarded four municipalities for sewage treatment plant projects.

CLF is asking a state environmental judge for a hearing because all four allow substantially more phosphorus discharge into rivers and ultimately Lake Champlain than is currently allowed.

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The permits cover projects in St. Albans, South Burlington, Alburgh and Montpelier though lawyer Chris Kilian suggested this was only the first of more challenges the group plans to file over pollution that plagues many areas of the Lake Champlain basin.