Senate passes controversial toxic pollution liability bill

Sen. Brian Campion, D-Bennington, one of the sponsors of S.197, in a committee meeting in 2015. File photo by Amy Ash Nixon/VTDigger
Senators narrowly approved a bill on Wednesday that substantially raises polluters’ liability for harming Vermonters, a proposal that has drawn intense lobbying on both sides.
Opponents say the legislation would assign a level of responsibility to polluters that exceeds what’s found in any other state, and could have serious and unforeseen consequences