January 29, 2010
Puget Soundkeeper Alliance filed letters for 60-day notice of Intent to sue with five Seattle-area boatyards due to the violation of their stormwater general permits under the federal Clean Water Act. The monitoring data from these boatyards show documented discharges of copper, lead, zinc and other heavy metals that are much higher than the benchmarks and/or limits in the permits and are at levels proven to kill salmon and other marine life. Puget Soundkeeper Alliance is in settlement negotiations with these facilities to bring them into compliance with the law.
Puget Soundkeeper Alliance has a long and productive record of working with boaters, marinas and boatyards to protect salmon and all marine life in our waters. Protecting water quality and compliance with the law by all parties is our goal. For more information please see PSA’s latest email Report to our Members and our newsletter article, Enforcing the Boatyard Stormwater General Permit.
Bob Beckman, Puget Soundkeeper & Executive Director can be reached at 206-297-7002 or bob@pugetsoundkeeper.org