OAKLAND — A nonprofit public benefit corporation is suing a fake business and its owner for violations of the Industrial Stormwater permit and the Clean Water Act.
San Francisco Baykeeper, which has 3,000 members, filed a lawsuit on Dec. 18, 2015, in the Northern District of California District Court Oakland Division against James F. Taylor, doing business as Pinole Rodeo Auto Wrecker under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.
According to the suit, Pinole Rodeo Auto Wrecker is an active fictitious business owned by Taylor, and the business has a facility. Stormwater runoff from industrial sites cause harm to humans and aquatic life. The Clean Water Act provides enforcement actions against companies and people for unpermitted discharges of pollutants. Also, dischargers must employ “best management practices” to reduce pollution. Finally, companies in California need an Industrial Stormwater Permit.
The suit states that Pinole Rodeo Auto Wrecker and Taylor violated the best management practices multiple times and didn’t take the correct actions to control, minimize and remove pollutions on multiple occasions.
Baykeeper is seeking the court to declare Taylor violated the Clean Water Act and enjoin him from discharging pollutants from the facility, restore all receiving waters damaged by the illegal discharge and pay $37,500 per day for all violations. George Torgun and Nicole C. Sasaki of Oakland will represent Baykeeper.
Northern District of California District Court Oakland Division Case number: 315-cv-05825