The Flint River runs from Atlanta through Middle Georgia and joins with the Chattahoochee River at Lake Seminole in South Georgia. Credit: The Flint Riverkeeper Facebook page.

Environmental groups threaten lawsuit over Flint River pollution from airport

Environmental groups sent leaders of the City of Atlanta and the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport a notice last week of their intent to file a lawsuit against the entities for ongoing illegal pollution of the Flint River.

Flint Riverkeeper and the Southern Environmental Law Center sent the notice to Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Airport General Manager Ricky Smith saying the lawsuit would be filed under the Clean Water Act.

Three jet fuel spills have been reported this year at the airport that resulted in contamination in the Flint River.

Flint Riverkeeper announced back in June that they were working with SELC to explore their legal options due to the continued contamination of the river at the airport.

Multiple Georgia cities rely on the river for their drinking water, and Flint Riverkeeper reports that they have detected elevated levels of substances called “forever chemicals” downstream that exceed the federal drinking water limits.

The Flint River spans more than 200 miles across Georgia and eventually merges with the Chattahoochee River before making it to the Gulf of Mexico.