Tell State Regulators: Enforce Environmental Law in West Oakland!

Tell State Regulators: Enforce Environmental Law in West Oakland!

Started
August 4, 2020
Petition to
California Department of Toxic Substances Control
Signatures: 2,922Next Goal: 5,000
Support now

Why this petition matters

Started by Oakland Athletics

The Oakland A's have filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) for their failure to impose and enforce environmental law against Schnitzer Steel's West Oakland site, the largest metal shredding facility in the state.

As detailed in the lawsuit, Schnitzer Steel sits less than a mile away from approximately 23,000 West Oakland residents. It generates materials that regulators have found repeatedly exceed toxicity thresholds for hazardous waste under CA law. These materials are left outside, where they can leach into the soil and groundwater, blow offsite, and catch fire.

Hazardous materials are supposed to be tightly regulated. Long ago, California passed tough hazardous waste laws to protect our communities and the environment around them. But DTSC has exempted Schnitzer from having to comply with these laws in managing its hazardous shredder waste for over thirty years. This is a regulatory failure and an issue of environmental justice.

Sign the petition and join us. West Oakland residents deserve clean air and water! Schnitzer must be required to comply with the Hazardous Waste Control Law.

Support now
Signatures: 2,922Next Goal: 5,000
Support now