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Environment California (“EC”) filed a July 23rd United States District Court (Central District of California) Clean Water Act citizen suit action against the Port of Los Angeles (“Port”) for alleged violations. See case No. 2:24-cv-06154.

The Port is a department of the City of Los Angeles, California.

The Port infrastructure is stated to include the ownership and operation of the New Dock Street Pump Station (“Station”). The Port is stated to collect and convey to the Station stormwater runoff from an area for approximately 53 acres.

EC further states that groundwater infiltration occurs at the junctions of the pipes conveying the stormwater. This groundwater is stated to also be conveyed to the Station.

The Station is stated to be required to treat stormwater and groundwater infiltration in the Station’s wastewater treatment system. The wastewater is eventually pumped through discharge piping for release into the Cerritos Channel.

The EC citizen suit Complaint alleges that the Port:

• Routinely exceeds National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (“NPDES”) permit limits for fecal bacteria, copper, other pollutants.
• The stormwater treatment system is undersized and therefore untreated wastewater bypasses the system entirely.

The Complaint alleges that despite violating the NPDES permit, that the Clean Water Act Regulator (Regional Board) has “only given them a slap on the wrist”.

A copy of the Complaint can be downloaded here.