NRDC: We took a mega-polluter to court -- and WON

Victory Over Big Polluters!

Maine's Penobscot River

Thanks to your support, NRDC just won a 15-year legal battle against a corporate giant that polluted one of America's greatest rivers with toxic mercury.


After a 15-year legal battle, a federal court has sided with NRDC and the Maine People's Alliance and held the global health care giant Mallinckrodt US LLC accountable for tons of mercury that its chlorine bleach plant dumped into Maine's Penobscot River.

Mallinckrodt has been ordered to fund an immediate and intensive search for remedies to restore the river that could cost the company upwards of $100 million.

This is a historic victory over a powerful corporate polluter and its flagrant pollution of one of America's greatest rivers -- and it was only possible thanks to NRDC supporters like you.

You stood with us every step of the way, from helping us file suit way back in 2000 to lending your generous financial support to keep this landmark legal fight alive for over a decade. We never gave up because we knew just how much was at stake for our environment.

I love reporting back to you on big successes like this, because it's one of the best ways to show you how your generous support pays off in victories over some very powerful adversaries.

If you want to help NRDC take more polluters to court and win, I hope you'll consider becoming an NRDC Monthly Partner by making a monthly pledge today.

The generous support of our Monthly Partners gives us the resources we need to wage --and win -- more high-stakes, long-term courtroom battles against big polluters like Mallinckrodt.

Mallinckrodt is an international pharmaceutical company that manufactures medical devices and supplies. A scientific study -- ordered by the Court at NRDC's request -- found up to 12 tons of mercury, a potent neurotoxin, coursing through and contaminating the Penobscot River -- the largest estuary in New England and a major source of fish and shellfish for millions of people.

This ruling is a huge relief for the people who eat the Penobscot's lobster, work its waters, treasure its marine life and live along its banks. It means justice for the Maine communities who suffered for too long at the hands of this powerful corporation.

And it means you played a frontline role in a precedent-setting victory for citizen enforcement of environmental law.

Corporate polluters across America have been watching our case like hawks -- waiting to see if mega-corporations with deep pockets can break the law and escape justice simply by outspending the little guy in a legal war of attrition. You enabled us to keep up our fight, and answer them with a loud and resounding "No!"

In the critical weeks and months ahead, NRDC will be standing at the ready to take on any challenge by Mallinckrodt to overturn this victory -- and watchdogging the company to ensure that it follows through and fully restores the Penobscot to the clean, safe waterway that the American people deserve.

Please become a Monthly Partner to help us fight to make sure this spectacular win stays a win -- and prepare for the next big legal battles for our environmental future.

But today, join us in celebrating this amazing win for our environment. Thank you for making this victory possible -- we couldn't have done it without you.

Sincerely,


Rhea Suh
President, NRDC



P.S. Please consider pledging a regular, monthly gift to ensure NRDC has the resources we need to take on long-term fights against corporate adversaries in defense of our environment.