Groups petition to remove ‘swamp water’ classification on lower Cape Fear

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The state designated the lower Cape Fear as “swamp waters” in 2015. In July, the EPA disapproved that reclassification.

Now, groups are petitioning the state to remove the “swamp waters” classification from 15 miles of the lower Cape Fear River flowing past Wilmington.

“The 5 million hogs and 21 million turkeys in the Cape Fear basin have polluted the water so badly, our river is at risk of choking to death,” said Kemp Burdette, Cape Fear Riverkeeper. “Reclassifying it as a swamp isn’t the answer; imposing pollution limits, as required by law, is.”

“The swampwater classification is not enforceable under federal law, as the EPA rightfully disapproved the change,” said Brooks Rainey Pearson, attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center. “It is past time for the state to remove this erroneous classification from the books. The lower Cape Fear is simply not a swamp.”

The groups will present the petition at an Environmental Management Commission meeting next month.