Mark Templeton on U.S. Steel's Toxic Spills, and Next Steps
UChicago, Surfrider Foundation Team Up Against U.S. Steel
Under the Clean Water Act, the company has 60 days from the notice of intent to sue to resolve the issues with federal and state regulators, according to Mark Templeton, director of the Abrams Environmental Clinic.
“We are essentially waiting for that period to expire and getting ready to file the lawsuit itself sometime in mid-January,” Templeton said.
He says that it wouldn’t surprise him if regulators reached some agreement with U.S. Steel within the 60-day period.
“They should be pushing for a fine as well as for a supplemental environmental project, which would be a project that the company would undertake to improve environmental conditions in the area more generally,” Templeton said.
The law clinic and nonprofit plan to scrutinize any agreement closely to see if it’s strong enough, Templeton said, adding that, if necessary, they’d “intervene in the legal proceedings to make sure the waters are sufficiently protected.”
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