The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has taken steps to mitigate environmental infractions by a West Oakland metal recycler with a new administrative agreement. The EPA's order addresses the pollution concerns at Radius Recycling Inc., where wastewater discharged into the Oakland Inner Harbor and San Francisco Bay exceeded legal limits, violating the Clean Water Act. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, excess levels of zinc, copper, and acute water toxicity notably breached the company's permit.
Regional leadership at the EPA outlined the expectations of the new mandate. "This order requires Radius Recycling to improve the quality of water discharges leaving the facility, which will help reduce the flow of pollutants into San Francisco Bay,” Amy Miller, the Pacific Southwest Region Director for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance at EPA, explained, per the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The corrective measures demanded by the agreement include the installation of a new water treatment unit and the development of a stringent Water Pollution Prevention Plan intended to beef up site inspections and improve cleaning protocols. Despite these clear directives, there remains a persistent challenge in fully eradicating industrial pollutants from the vital waters of the Bay.
In response to the recurring pollution events, Radius Recycling must install a granular activated carbon treatment unit to bring metal concentrations below the effluent limitations. Furthermore, the facility must develop a Water Pollution Prevention Plan to bolster maintenance and inspection procedures. Measures like these are critical, as the San Francisco Bay serves as a crucial ecosystem to over 7.5 million Bay Area residents. The Bay's waters, historically tainted with high levels of metal, pose significant risks to the local wildlife and human populations, who may consume fish containing bioaccumulated contaminants.
