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University of Maryland Could Pay for Legal Bills of Local Farm

 

             There’s a move in Annapolis to make the University of Maryland in Baltimore pay the legal expenses of the farm in Berlin…they are suing…even if the suit has not been settled by the court.

            Eastern Shore State Senate Richard Colburn has sponsored the legislation…that would require the university to use…its $500-thousand 2013 budget appropriation…to pay for the farm’s legal expenses.

            The federal lawsuit Was filed against Alan and Kristin Hudson…by two environmental groups...over allegations that they violated the Clean Water Act…after tests of ditches and streams near their property showed levels of bacteria and nutrients above the allowable level.

            The University of Maryland Environmental Law Clinic…has signed on as legal counsel for the Waterkeeper Alliance…who along with the Assateague Coastkeeper…filed the federal suit against the farm.

            Meanwhile…the Salisbury Daily Times reports…that there is a separate investigation by the Department of Environment…into The allegations…that resulted in a $4-thousand fine for fertilizer being too close to a ditch.

            But…the Department says…there is No strong evidence that the farm was responsible for pollution in local waterways.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.