Developing Better Controls on Polluting Junkyards in Vermont
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In Milton, Vermont, ABC Metals has illegally operated a polluting junkyard for several decades. The soil in the neighborhood is laden with heavy metals, a local drinking water well shows dangerous levels of arsenic, and the local pond is contaminated with PCBs. In partnership with Toxics Action Center, the Clinic has worked with community group Milton CLEAN to ensure neighbors are aware of the environmental dangers they face and to put pressure on the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources and Attorney General to ensure that they press forward aggressively in their lawsuit against the junkyard owner. The Chittenden Superior Court confirmed that the junkyard is operating illegally without a permit. This is a major milestone for Milton CLEAN in its campaign to shut down the junkyard and clean up their drinking water. As a direct result of this campaign, additional communities across Vermont have gotten involved in efforts to control polluting junkyards, and this has led to new legislation in Vermont strengthening controls for junkyards to promote better operational practices and reduce pollution threats.
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