California to Sue Federal Government for Polluting Vessels

In order to clean up toxic pollution caused by the deterioration of approximately 50 obsolete federal vessels anchored in Suisun Bay, the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board has announced its intention to sue the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD), an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The Water Board’s planned enforcement action will reinforce a suit brought last year by Arc Ecology, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and San Francisco Baykeeper to halt the ships’ discharge of more than nineteen tons of toxic heavy metals into Suisun Bay.

“These decrepit ships have been obsolete for decades and are now just floating vessels of hazardous waste," said Saul Bloom, executive director of Arc Ecology. "With the Water Board’s planned litigation, the pressure is mounting on MARAD to stop breaking the law and start protecting San Francisco Bay.”

“MARAD’s rotting ships are a massive source of pollutants to the fragile Bay-Delta ecosystem," said Sejal Choksi, San Francisco Baykeeper's program director. "We look forward to the Water Board joining our litigation to force MARAD to clean up its mess.”

"The San Francisco Bay cannot remain a dumping ground for toxic waste. Some of these ships have been wasting in the bay for 50 years," said NRDC Senior Attorney Michael Wall. "Clearly this is an issue of deep concern to everyone who treasures our precious Bay-Delta ecosystem, and we’re pleased the Water Board joined the fight.”

Source: Natural Resources Defense Council