Clean water, clean air - a fine for Sims Metals, Port of Redwood City

Ships bound for the Far East load scrap metal

 From Silicon Valley Mercury News/Paul Rogers, 1/10/12. "A Bay Area metals recycling company that drew widespread attention -- and a fine -- for a fire that sent a huge plume of black, acrid smoke into the air over Silicon Valley five years ago is facing new pollution charges from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The EPA said Monday that it has issued a notice of violation to Sims Metal Management, located at the Port of Redwood City, for polluting San Francisco Bay with lead, mercury, PCBs, copper and zinc. Under the Clean Water Act, Sims could face fines up to $37,500 a day unless it cleans up...

..."Federal officials said the pollution at such levels poses a risk to fish, birds and other species in San Francisco Bay."The bay has been subjected to a history of pollution, and we are doing our best to clean it up," said Jared Blumenfeld, the EPA's regional administrator in San Francisco."  Read more...

Posted by Kathy Meeh