An environmental activist organization has filed suit against a host of Bay Area metal recycling centers and auto scrap yards, seeking a potentially massive payout over accusations that stormwater runoff from the scrap yards has polluted San Francisco Bay and other area waterways.
On Feb. 20, San Francisco Baykeeper filed suit in San Francisco federal court against several defendants, including Radius Recycling Inc., U-Pull-It Inc., Pick-N-Pull San Jose Auto Dismantlers, Pick-N-Pull Auto Dismantlers Oakland, Norprop Inc., and Pick and Pull Auto Dismantling Inc.
The suit alleges that stormwater runoff from these facilities has polluted the San Francisco Bay and other local waterways, including Union Creek, Hill Slough, Suisun Slough, Suisun Marsh Wetlands, Suisun Bay, Wildcat Creek, San Pablo Bay, Elmhurst Creek, San Leandro Bay and Mowry Slough.
According to the complaint, the alleged pollution includes a variety of metals and other alleged toxins, carried into the waterways by stormwater runoff.
The complaint accuses the recycling centers of allegedly violating the Clean Water Act and the General Industrial Stormwater Permit issued by the state of California. The complaint further accuses the centers of allegedly falsifying their compliance with the terms of the stormwater permit.
The plaintiff seeks a declaratory judgment, injunctive relief, civil penalties of $64,618.00 per day per violation, and attorney fees.
San Francisco Baykeeper, of Oakland, is represented by their in-house attorneys Eric J. Buescher and Nicole C. Sasaki.