EPA claims no knowledge of Mayor Broome’s stormwater utility fee NDA

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East Baton Rouge Parish President Mayor Sharon Weston Broome and her staff have repeatedly told the public and officials that details of the proposed stormwater utility fee cannot be discussed because of a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA.

Plus, it appears the rush to the get the proposed fee before the EBR Metro-Council is to avoid possible looming fees that could be assessed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under a consent decree. Now though, it appears the EPA is saying none of that is true, per Congressman Garret Graves.

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Now though, Congressman Graves said after a call to the EPA, he has learned that “No non-disclosure agreement is in place or required by the EPA or the Department of Justice regarding the storm water fee in Baton Rouge.”

Congressman Graves said the EPA further told him “No deadline in place required by EPA that would force the new tax to be imposed by the parish by the end of the month.”

The proposed fee has caught a lot of heat from the public with few details released from officials under the pretense of an NDA. Plus, the proposed fee is expected to go before the EBR Metro-Council on Oct. 26th for a vote, which in itself has upset many voters. If the public will be required to pay a fee, they should be able to vote on it themselves, not council-members only.

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