Help us stop pollution in Elkhorn Slough's sea otter habitat.
EcoRights volunteers recently discovered polluted industrial stormwater flooding into Elkhorn Slough from the Pick-n-Pull auto-wrecking yard in Moss Landing. In response, we filed a citizen enforcement action under the Federal Clean Water Act, and launched this petition seeking Monterey County's and California Coastal Commission's help stopping this pollution that threatens the sea otters and other delicate wildlife that depends on the Slough’s rare and fragile ecosystem.
EcoRights sampled the stormwater on three separate occasions, finding toxic metals, such as copper and lead, and gasoline and diesel constituents. The polluted water also had high “oxygen demand,” which robs the estuary water of its much-needed oxygen. The facility, owned by Schnitzer Steel Industries, one of the nation’s largest scrap metal corporations, dismantles tens of thousands of scrap vehicles each year on the shores of Elkhorn Slough. The company’s own monitoring confirms its stormwater contains pollutants at levels exceeding EPA and California benchmarks.
The Elkhorn Slough Tidal Estuary is an incredibly rich biological area. It supports a diversity of species that might be the highest in California for a watershed of its size. It is home to harbor seals, southern sea otters, red-legged frogs, and is a resting spot for more than 200 migrating bird species. The particular section of the estuary where the auto dismantling yard discharges, “Yampah Island,” is the most heavily used southern sea otter pup rearing ground in the entire range of this recovering species. Otter pups are particularly susceptible to the harmful effects of pollution, as mothers offload accumulated toxics in breast milk, making the first pup very vulnerable to contaminants.
Please help us convince Monterey County and the California Coastal Commission that if these facilities cannot be operated without contaminating Elkhorn Slough, they should be relocated, and that no Coastal Development Permits should be renewed without a comprehensive environmental impact study.
Please sign our petition to add your voice!
Photo by Joel Avila, Hawkeye Aerial Photography
Dear Supervisors of Monterey County and members of the California Coastal Commission,
It has come to my attention that the Pick-n-Pull auto dismantling yard in Moss Landing is a source of polluted stormwater that flows into Elkhorn Slough Tidal Estuary, a unique ecosystem that supports a rich biodiversity of wildlife, including southern sea otters.
If the facility does not commit to making needed upgrades to its stormwater conveyance and filtration systems, as well as operational improvements to ensure that its stormwater does not contain harmful levels of pollutants, I request that you:
- Overturn the Monterey County Planning Commission's March 11, 2015 decision to extend Pick-n-Pull's Coastal Development Permits for ten years.
- Require a comprehensive Environmental Impacts analysis, including a thorough analysis of the facility's past, present and potential future impacts on Elkhorn Slough and its resident species, including southern sea otters.
- Demand the facility bring its discharges into compliance with the Federal Clean Water Act before its permits will be considered for renewal.
- Require the facility to relocate if it cannot operate without discharging pollutants to the Slough and harming resident species.
For the sake of the sea otters, and the human and wildlife communities that enjoy or depend on Elkhorn Slough, I trust that you will do the right thing.
Sincerely,
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