LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) – A nonprofit corporation alleges a Los Angeles industrial facility is unlawfully discharging polluted storm water.
Center for Biological Diversity filed a complaint on Oct. 10 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against Rehrig Pacific Co. over alleged violation of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that the defendant's 26th Street, Los Angeles facility discharges polluted storm water in violation of a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. The plaintiff alleges the facility has insufficient structural storm water control measures and that sampling reports high pollutant levels.
The plaintiff holds Rehrig Pacific Co. responsible because the defendant allegedly failed to implement the best available and best conventional treatment technologies at the facility for its discharges of pH, oil and grease, zinc, plastic pellets and other potentially unmonitored pollutants.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks an order to immediately comply with all requirements for the permit, pay civil penalties, award of costs and any such other and further relief as this court may deem appropriate. It is represented by Michael R. Lozeau and Douglas J. Chermak of Lozeau Drury LLP in Oakland, California.
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California case number 2:18-cv-08721-AB-RAO