Delaware General Assembly


CHAPTER 672

FORMERLY HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

NO. 58

EXPRESSING VEHEMENT OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED DUMPING OF SEWAGE SLUDGE OFF THE COAST OF DELAWARE BY THE HAMPTON ROADS, VIRGINIA SANITATION DISTRICT, AND DIRECTING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE TO PROMPTLY SEEK INJUNCTIVE RELIEF THROUGH THE FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT, AND BY MEMORIALIZING AND URGING DELAWARE'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO USE THE INFLUENCE OF THEIR OFFICES TO STOP SUCH ACTIVITY.

WHEREAS, the members of the 126th General Assembly of

State of Delaware recently learned, with alarm, that the se wage treatment facility of the Hampton Roads, Virginia Sanitation District located at Newport News, Virginia, is malfunctioning, the result of which is the proposed dumping of 700,000 gallons of partially treated sewage off the coast of Delaware; and

WHEREAS, such activity, if permitted, would be severely detrimental not only to the environmental efforts so diligently pursued by all Delawareans, but a flagrant violation of the moral commitment to which thousands of Delawareans are dedicated; and

WHEREAS, there are other disposal alternatives available to the Virginia Sanitation District in lieu of dumping off the coast of Delaware; and

WHEREAS, the dumping of sewage off the coast of Delaware portends a bad precedent for neighboring states and municipalities to dump off the coast of Delaware whenever their sewage treatment facilities become inoperable.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 126th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate

concurring therein, that the Attorney General of the State of Delaware is hereby directed to promptly seek injunctive relief through the Federal District Court to preclude the Hampton Road, Virginia Sanitation District from dumping partially treated sewage or any sewage off the coast of Delaware.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Delaware's Congressional Delegation use every available influence of their offices with their colleagues and appropriate executive agencies to stop the Hampton Roads, Virginia Sanitation District from dumping sewage off the coast of Delaware.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Delaware's Congressional Delegation seek the necessary help from their Congressional colleagues and the appropriate federal agencies in resolving permanently the use of the Delaware Coast as a dumping ground for sewage waste.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be made a part of the House and Senate Journal and that copies be forwarded to the Attorney General of the State of Delaware and Delaware's Congressional Delegation promptly upon enactment.

Approved June 11, 1972.