Enviros Threaten To Sue 3 Coal Plants for Polluting Chesapeake Rivers

"A trio of environmental groups warned Monday they would sue the operator of three coal-fired power plants in Maryland for allegedly discharging excessive amounts of nutrient pollution into Chesapeake Bay rivers and trying to mask their violations by transferring pollution 'credits' among facilities."



"Food & Water Watch, the Patuxent Riverkeeper and the Potomac Riverkeeper contend that NRG Energy has been violating state-imposed pollution discharge limits for the past three years at its Chalk Point, Morgantown and Dickerson power plants.

In 2010, for instance, state documents show that the Chalk Point plant in Prince George's County discharged more than 2,200 times as much nitrogen into the Patuxent River as it was permitted to do, the groups said. All three plants exceeded their limits on nitrogen pollution, the groups contended, and the Dickerson plant in Montgomery County also discharged more phosphorus into local streams than it was allowed. The Morgantown plant in Charles County discharges into the Potomac River.

The groups said they would sue NRG for damages and an injunction if it did not stop its excessive discharges in 60 days, or begin negotiations to settle the matter."

Timothy B. Wheeler reports for the Baltimore Sun January 28, 2013.
 

Source: Baltimore Sun, 01/29/2013