Earlier this summer, the Waterkeeper movement and the planet lost a key ally with the passing of Dr. Bruce A. Bell. Bruce, through Carpenter Environmental Associates – a firm that he founded in the 1980s – played an integral role as a technical expert in clean water enforcement cases for Waterkeeper Alliance and Waterkeeper groups across the United States.
“You can’t overstate Bruce’s impact on protecting our nation’s waterways. He was a brilliant scientist whose unwavering commitment to supporting non-profits in holding polluters accountable has left an indelible mark on the pursuit of a cleaner, more just world,” said Marc Yaggi, CEO of Waterkeeper Alliance. “Beyond his professional achievements, Bruce was known for his kindness that warmed hearts, humor that lifted spirits, and a thoughtfulness that inspired us all. Bruce’s legacy will forever resonate within the realm of environmental advocacy.”
“I first met Dr. Bruce Bell in 1992 and he was already a legend among clean water enforcement attorneys for his ability to simplify and explain complex environmental science principles to juries and judges,” added Daniel E. Estrin, General Counsel and Legal Director for Waterkeeper Alliance. “From his groundbreaking technical work – on sewage treatment plants and manufacturers on the Hudson River in New York and New Jersey, to industrial meat factories in Virginia and North Carolina, to petrochemical manufacturers in Texas, to industrial stormwater in California – Bruce did more than any testifying expert I know to help stop unlawful water pollution and hold polluters accountable. The Waterkeeper movement will miss Bruce’s friendship and his sage technical advice dearly.”