California
Victory on Mercury in San Francisco Bay
Clean Water Action and its allies won a big victory on July 17 when the State Water Resources Control Board adopted a plan to address mercury contamination in San Francisco Bay that included almost all the features for which we have been fighting!
For the past four years, Clean Water Action has been fighting for a comprehensive plan that would hold polluters accountable, reduce the bleeding of new mercury into the watershed, and protect subsistence fishing communities that face higher health risks. Our goals were to ensure the eventual cleanup of the Bay and to set a high standard for other future cleanups.
A key turning point in the struggle came in September 2005 when we presented a letter to the state Board signed by 2,500 of our Bay area members! Our demands included:
- enforceable limits for each facility releasing mercury into the bay
- program to address impacts on low income communities and communities of color with high levels of subsistence fishing
- action to identify and prioritize impacts from mines leaching mercury into the water
- a requirement that the region's refineries account for all the mercury leaving their facility.
The great news is that all of these strategies have been included in the plan or are being implemented by the Regional Board through other policy actions! We were also able to stop an effort by the oil refineries who requested a suspension of the requirement that they track the fate of mercury entering their facilities!
While it will take many decades to reduce the high levels of mercury in the Bay, this new plan is a major step forward in making the water once again safe for wildlife, fishing and other uses. Thanks to all our members for helping make this victory possible!
Are the fish in San Francisco Bay safe to eat?
The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard assessment has established a fish advisory for the Bay with guidelines for safe consumption levels. You can access the advisory on the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment's web site.
If you scroll down the page, you will find links to the advisory in Spanish, Chinese, Cambodian, Korean, and Vietnamese.
