Photos
taken during recent federal inspections of Sims Metal Click photo for larger version Credit: EPA
18 January 2012
Following unlawful toxic discharges, metal and e-waste recycler, Sims Metal Management's facility in the Port of Redwood City, California has been ordered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to comply with the federal Clean Water Act laws.
According to the EPA, the inspections found evidence of unlawful discharges of PCBs, mercury, lead, copper and zinc into San Francisco Bay. The South Bay facility is home to one of the largest metal shredders in the Bay Area, and regularly shreds entire cars before exporting the metal overseas.
In March 2011 the EPA said that it inspected the facility to determine compliance with its Industrial Storm Water Permit. During the inspection, enforcement officers found evidence at the facility's shipping and rail receiving areas that pollutants had been discharged to Redwood Creek, a direct tributary to San Francisco Bay.
San Francisco Bay is an impaired water body and is listed on the State's 303(d) list of impaired waters for pesticides, mercury, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), and trash. The Bay is also used by recreational boaters, anglers, windsurfers, and swimmers.
The EPA said that according to records provided by the Port of Redwood City, from July 2010 to June 2011, 20 large vessels picked up and transported an average of 22,000 tons (19,500 tonnes) of shredded material from the facility bound for global destinations including China.
In August 2011 the agency said that it again inspected the facility, taking samples of debris and soils in the areas that flow to San Francisco Bay where the facility conducts shipping and receiving activities.
According to the EPA, the results of the samples demonstrated elevated PCBs, mercury, lead, copper and zinc.
The order requires Sims to submit a revised storm water pollution prevention plan and to update monitoring and sampling within 30 days of the order; and to develop and implement storm water pollution counter measures.
The EPA said that its order also requires Sims Metal Management to develop and submit a plan within 90 days to eliminate these discharges to Redwood Creek within one year.
Under the order the company must: sample storm water discharges monthly throughout the winter and spring; revise their storm water pollution prevention plan to update monitoring and sampling; and develop and implement storm water pollution counter measures for all areas of activity.
The agency added that Sims is working cooperatively with it to address requirements of the order.
Following unlawful toxic discharges, metal and e-waste recycler, Sims Metal Management's facility in the Port of Redwood City, California has been ordered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to comply with the federal Clean Water Act laws.
According to the EPA, the inspections found evidence of unlawful discharges of PCBs, mercury, lead, copper and zinc into San Francisco Bay. The South Bay facility is home to one of the largest metal shredders in the Bay Area, and regularly shreds entire cars before exporting the metal overseas.
In March 2011 the EPA said that it inspected the facility to determine compliance with its Industrial Storm Water Permit. During the inspection, enforcement officers found evidence at the facility's shipping and rail receiving areas that pollutants had been discharged to Redwood Creek, a direct tributary to San Francisco Bay.
San Francisco Bay is an impaired water body and is listed on the State's 303(d) list of impaired waters for pesticides, mercury, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), and trash. The Bay is also used by recreational boaters, anglers, windsurfers, and swimmers.
The EPA said that according to records provided by the Port of Redwood City, from July 2010 to June 2011, 20 large vessels picked up and transported an average of 22,000 tons (19,500 tonnes) of shredded material from the facility bound for global destinations including China.
In August 2011 the agency said that it again inspected the facility, taking samples of debris and soils in the areas that flow to San Francisco Bay where the facility conducts shipping and receiving activities.
According to the EPA, the results of the samples demonstrated elevated PCBs, mercury, lead, copper and zinc.
The order requires Sims to submit a revised storm water pollution prevention plan and to update monitoring and sampling within 30 days of the order; and to develop and implement storm water pollution counter measures.
The EPA said that its order also requires Sims Metal Management to develop and submit a plan within 90 days to eliminate these discharges to Redwood Creek within one year.
Under the order the company must: sample storm water discharges monthly throughout the winter and spring; revise their storm water pollution prevention plan to update monitoring and sampling; and develop and implement storm water pollution counter measures for all areas of activity.
The agency added that Sims is working cooperatively with it to address requirements of the order.
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