Defending critical stormwater victory.

• Position: Vermont

CM READERS WILL RECALL CLF'S stormwater victory last fall. In October, the Vermont Water Resources Board (WRB) found that existing strip malls, big box stores and other stormwater polluters in five watersheds around Lake Champlain are contributing to violations of state water quality standards. Under the Clean Water Act, this finding requires that polluters obtain federal discharge permits and take steps to clean up pollution.

CLF is currently defending this victory against an appeal by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. In March at an early stage of the appeal, State Supreme Court Justice Marilyn Skoglund upheld the original WRB finding, an important affirmation of CLF's case. At the same time, Skoglund delayed implementation...