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Vinegar lawsuit overview:
- Who: Environmental group Blue Water Baltimore sued Fleischmann’s Vinegar Co. Inc.
- Why: The lawsuit alleges Fleischmann’s violated the Clean Water Act by contaminating the water in the Jones Fall stream.
- Where: The vinegar pollution lawsuit was filed in federal court in Maryland.
Environmental group Blue Water Baltimore filed a lawsuit against Fleischmann’s Vinegar Co. Inc., claiming it contributed to water pollution in the adjacent Jones Fall stream.
The vinegar plant has a permit to send non-contact cooling water that has been dechlorinated back into the stream. But the company released other chemicals into the water via an unauthorized metal pipe and cracks in the concrete foundation, according to the vinegar pollution lawsuit.
On seven occasions, contaminants were found leaking from the metal pipe, and on two occasions, the contaminants included ammonia, nitrogen, chloride, fluoride, nitrate and sulfate, according to the pollution lawsuit.
On 11 occasions, pollutants were found leaving the building through the concrete foundation and concrete wall, according to the vinegar lawsuit. Those leaks included low pH levels, acetic acid, copper, iron, lead, arsenic, selenium, ammonia, nitrogen, chloride, fluoride, nitrate, phosphate, phosphorus and butyric acid.
The vinegar pollution lawsuit asks the plant to fix the pollution issues and pay for Blue Water Baltimore’s attorney fees. It also notes that the plant is subject to the Clean Water Act in which violations can cost up to $64,618 per day per violation. The lawsuit also asks the United States District Court for the District of Maryland to retain jurisdiction of the lawsuit until the defendant fulfills all court-ordered obligations.
Thousands of fish killed, vinegar pollution lawsuit says
The pollution led to a pair of large fish kills, including one in which 1,000 fish were killed Sept. 12, 2021, and a second on Nov. 12, 2022. The fish killed included American eel, crayfish, northern suckers, green sunfish, blacknosed dace and bluegills, according to the lawsuit.
In related news, lawyers leading a contaminated water investigation related to veterans who were at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between Aug. 1, 1953, and Dec. 31, 1987 are looking for those who have been affected.
Have you seen pollution in a waterway? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiff is represented by Alexandra Dapolito Dunn of Baker Botts LLP.
The Fleischmann’s Vinegar water pollution lawsuit is Blue Water Baltimore Inc. v. Fleischmann’s Vinegar Co. Inc., Case No. 1:23-cv-00917, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.
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