Court Says EPA Must Control Invasive Species
The Ninth Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals has ruled that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency must regulate ship discharges that are polluting U.S. waters and spreading invasive species throughout the country’s waterways. San Francisco Baykeeper, along with other environmental organizations, sued to force EPA to place restrictions on pollution from the shipping industry.
Invasive species cause enormous environmental and economic damage to our waterways, impairing native habitat, harming commercial fisheries and clogging machinery at drinking water facilities and power plants. The cost of destruction caused by invasive species in the U.S. is estimated in the billions of dollars annually.
This ruling doesn’t mean an end to the spread of invasive species, however. Congress is now considering legislation that will protect the shipping industry from necessary pollution controls. Baykeeper is fighting to make sure the federal government doesn’t give the shipping industry a free pass to pollute our waters.
The Next Phase of Baykeeper's Sick of Sewage Initiative
After more than a decade of efforts to stop sewage spills in the Bay Area, this year Baykeeper initiated a Sick of Sewage campaign to rein in the Bay’s sewage spill problem.
Baykeeper announced in June our intent to enforce the Clean Water Act against the Town of Hillsborough and the Burlingame Hills area of San Mateo County for illegal sewage spills. Their poorly maintained and operated sewage systems are spilling sewage into creeks and the Bay.
Baykeeper is also co-sponsoring legislation to address sewage spills in California. The California Clean Water Act successfully passed the California Assembly in May and now moves to the State Senate for consideration.
Read More About Our Sick of Sewage Campaign and How You Can Help
Reforming Oil Spill Policy
The 53,000-gallon bunker oil spill from the Cosco Busan container ship on November 7, 2007 was the worst ship-related spill in San Francisco Bay in nearly two decades. San Francisco Baykeeper is now working to create improved oil spill response policy in the Bay Area.
California policy-makers are currently considering important legislation to improve oil spill response. The State Assembly recently passed many of these crucial bills, which now move to the State Senate for consideration.
Learn More About Current Legislation to Improve Oil Spill Response
