Environmental groups file federal lawsuit against Port of Los Angeles over stormwater process

Attorneys for Environmental California and the National Environmental Law Center announced the filing of a federal lawsuit against the Port of Los Angeles on Tuesday, July 23, accusing the trade hub of repeatedly violating the Clean Water Act.

Laura Meehan, Environment California’s state director, said “serious and serial” violations have been “happening for years,” with more than 2,000 illegal discharges of pollution, including heavy metals and petroleum-tainted products, over the past five years connected to an on-site treatment system at Terminal Island.

The two citizen environmental groups held a morning news conference in front of the U.S. courthouse in Downtown Los Angeles to announce the filing, which is limited to the 50-acre area of Terminal Island where the stormwater treatment center is.

The Port of Los Angeles, responding to a media request, said in a written response that the pump station “discharges groundwater and stormwater in order to keep the roadway at a railway underpass located on Terminal Island dry.”

“The Port of Los Angeles is working to address the issue at the pump station,” the statement continued, adding that the port has invested more than $2.5 million in those efforts over the past decade and “plans to spend an additional $2.6 million over the next three years to further improve the treatment system.”

Because the issue involves pending litigation, the port added, no further comments would be available.

Environment California accused the port’s stormwater treatment system of being “drastically undersized” and, as a result, the untreated waste water frequently bypasses the system entirely, in violation of federal law.

The plaintiffs pointed to San Pedro’s inner Cabrillo Beach, which just a few days ago received an “F” grade from Heal the Bay and is believed by plaintiffs to be connected to the stormwater problems. The protected inner beach, with little water circulation, has been a focus of the port over the years as officials sought a solution to the high pollution levels. Cabrillo’s Outer Beach, by contrast typically receives “A” grades.

Californians cherish their beaches, Meehan said, but too often those waterways — and especially those around the container port — are impacted by illegal pollution, making it unsafe to swim, surf or boat.

She accused the port of violating the Clean Water Act more than 2,000 times since 2019. Each violation, she said, is subject to a $3,000 fine — which the port has paid, she said — but more investment is needed to stop the violations.

The inner Cabrillo Beach, Meehan said, “is located downstream from the Cerritos Channel in Long Beach and 43% of the days since 2022” were deemed unsafe.

“Just yesterday,” she added, “a warning was issued for the entire swimming area of the inner Cabrillo Beach once again.

“By no means is this the only cause of pollution,” she added. “But if we are going to improve our water quality and make it safe for swimming again, we need everyone to do their part.”