What are some of the problems with the Consent Decree?
The biggest problem with the Consent Decree is its lack of urgency. Its vague timelines allow MSD too much leeway to delay action. Their procrastination and ambiguity in the past are of little comfort: If left without strict timelines, MSD’s timely compliance is in doubt. Furthermore, the limited deadlines that are imposed, only aim to eliminate 15 of the 90 active SSOs, and only 42 of the CSOs are scheduled for construction at a fixed date. Sierra Club urges a “fix it first” policy, yet MSD continues to spend money building new sewers in urban sprawling areas. They should also be required to disclose and publish every violation against the Clean Water Act and the Consent Decree, along with what, where, when, why and how. The public should not be held ignorant about the health of themselves or their families. Lengthy, complex release forms and putting requirements on homeowners to fix MSD’s SIB problems are not appropriate either.
