Trump Tower Agrees $4.8M Settlement Over Chicago River Fish Deaths

The Trump Organization has agreed to pay $4.8 million to settle multiple lawsuits alleging that the cooling water intake system (CWIS) at Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago caused significant harm to aquatic life in the Chicago River by pulling in vast amounts of river water daily. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with environmental groups including the Sierra Club and Friends of the Chicago River, accused the building of operating without a valid environmental permit and violating state clean water laws, leading to the deaths of thousands of fish. A Cook County judge previously ruled the CWIS created a public nuisance by interfering with the public's right to fish and recreate. The settlement allocates $3 million for habitat restoration in the Chicago River, $1.5 million in civil penalties to the state, and covers legal costs. Raoul emphasized the importance of protecting the Chicago River for future generations and committed to enforcing environmental laws rigorously. The Trump Organization has not publicly responded to requests for comment regarding the settlement.