The State : Dumping of Sludge OKd

A federal judge refused to block dumping of 500,000 cubic yards of Oakland harbor sludge off Half Moon Bay, despite the strong opposition of area commercial fishermen. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said it plans to issue the permit allowing 167 barges to begin carrying the dredge material. Steve Fritz, a commercial fisherman, warned that dumping the material could kill the fishing industry. “We would not be here unless we were absolutely convinced it will ruin the fishing,” Fritz said. He said it would affect catches of crab, petrale and rex sole, rock cod and even salmon, currently in season. The dredging is necessary to provide adequate depth and safety for a third generation of container ships. The dumping could begin this week, said Roger Beers, attorney for the Half Moon Bay Fishermen’s Marketing Assn. U.S. District Judge William Schwarzer refused to issue a temporary restraining order.