Who is our nation’s biggest polluter?

According to the Washington Post, it’s the US Defense Department.

According to a recent report, the Defense Department has refused to sign agreements required by law to allow Environmental Protection Agency officials to oversee cleanup of 12 military sites on American soil.

At Fort Meade, located in Maryland, toxic chemicals are being dumped into the soil and contaminating groundwater.  This is causing, and I quote, “imminent and substantial dangers to public health and the environment.”

Regarding other military branches, cleanup efforts have been mixed.  While the Navy has taken certain responsibility for their dirty sites, the Air Force has not signed an EPA agreement in 14 years.

Despite the threat of $28,000 fines per day, the Pentagon continues to ignore their duty to protect the health and well being of the citizens they’ve vowed to protect.

Check out some more of the country’s worst polluters here.

Photo by Citizen110.