When Congress passed the Clean Water Act, they included a citizen suit provision that allows citizens and citizen groups like Baykeeper to bring a lawsuit against a polluter in order to enforce the law when state and federal regulators do not. Congress specifically provided this tool so that citizens and citizen groups—not just regulators—would have the power to ensure that polluters follow the law.
With California's enforcement agencies drastically underfunded, Baykeeper plays a critical role in enforcing the Clean Water Act to control industrial storm water pollution. Baykeeper has a long history of successful Clean Water Act litigation to reduce industrial storm water pollution in San Francisco Bay. Our staff has the legal and scientific expertise to research and identify which facilities need to be cleaned up, recommend appropriate improvements and secure legally-binding agreements to effectively reduce toxic pollution.
Below are successful settlements reached in Baykeeper’s Bay-Safe Industry Campaign:
Oakland Asphalt Recycler Agrees to Keep Polluted Runoff out of the Bay
Redwood City Concrete Plant to Rein in Bay Contamination
Rodeo Auto Dismantler Agrees to Keep Polluted Runoff Out of the Bay
San Jose Debris Removal Facility Agrees to Keep Contaminated Runoff out of the Bay
Berkeley Trash & Recycling Center Agrees to Protect the Bay from Toxic Runoff
Santa Clara Plating Company Agrees to Keep Toxic Runoff from Polluting the Bay
San Rafael Rock Quarry Agrees to Protect the Bay from Contaminated Runoff
Santa Clara Waste Facility Agrees to Keep Toxic Runoff Out of the Bay
South San Francisco Waste and Recycling Facility Will Protect the Bay from Toxic Runoff
Marin Concrete Plant Agrees to Protect the Bay from Contaminated Runoff
San Jose Concrete Plant Agrees to Keep Toxic Runoff from Polluting the Bay
Marin Sanitary Service Agrees to Protect Bay from Polluted Runoff
Concord Auto Dismantler Agrees to Keep Runoff from Polluting the Bay
Oakland Auto Dismantler Agrees to Protect the Bay from Contaminated Runoff
San Jose Auto Dismantler Will Reduce Bay Contamination
Syar Napa Quarry Agrees to Protect the Bay from Contaminated Runoff
Major Bulk Shipping Terminal Agrees to Stop Toxic Contamination of the Bay
Benicia Recycling Facility Agrees to Protect the Bay from Toxic Runoff
San Jose Metal Recycler Works with Baykeeper to Keep Runoff from Polluting the Bay
Pleasanton Concrete Manufacturer Agrees to Protect Bay from Toxic Runoff
Marine Express Works with Baykeeper to Keep Toxics Out of Bay
Oakland Metal Coating Facility Will Protect Bay from Toxic Runoff
Construction Debris Recycler to Keep Polluted Runoff Out of Bay
Union City Pipe Factory Agrees to Protect Bay from Toxic Runoff
Sunnyvale Waste Facility Agrees to Keep Polluted Runoff Out of the Bay
Santa Clara Steel Fabricator Will Curb Pollution of Bay
GreenWaste in San Jose Agrees to Clean Up Its Bay Pollution
San Jose Recycler to Keep Its Polluted Runoff Out of the Bay
Berkeley Steel Foundry to Stop Polluting the Bay
Major Electronics Recycler Agrees to Clean Up Its Pollution
Partnering With e-Recycling of California to Cut Pollution to the Bay
Oakland Metal Recycler to Clean Up Its Bay Pollution
Berkeley Forge & Tool Agrees to Reduce Pollution of the Bay
San Jose Landfill/Recycler to Clean Up Toxic Bay Pollution
BAE Shipyard Agrees to Clean Up Toxic Bay Pollution
California Waste Solutions to Reduce Bay Pollution
Svendsen’s Boat Works to Reduce Bay Pollution
The Boatyard at Grand Marina Agrees to Curb Pollution