Ban on Dumping Dredge Spoils Extended by Court

A judge Friday extended for several months an order stopping the Port of Oakland from dumping dredge spoils in a prime ocean fishing area near Half Moon Bay.

Superior Court Judge Donald R. Chapman’s ruling extends a ban on the dumping, which has been in effect since May 16, until a study can be conducted into whether the disposal is consistent with state coastal management regulations.

Port of Oakland officials, who want to deepen the harbor to accommodate a new generation of supercontainer ships, said the decision is a severe blow to the project.

“The project remains of utmost importance to us,” port attorney Tom Clark said.

Fishermen operating out of Pillar Point Marina, north of Half Moon Bay, say the spot chosen as a dumpsite is one of the most fertile fishing areas on the central coast. San Mateo County obtained a temporary ban on the dumping last month, pending a final ruling in the case.

Chapman sided with the county, saying the port should have requested a “consistency review” by the California Coastal Commission. A spokesman for the Coastal Commission said the review, to determine whether the dumping is consistent with state coastal management regulations, will take about three months.

Port officials said they want to review Chapman’s decision before planning the next step but did not rule out the possibility of an appeal. Clark said Chapman’s decision could put Oakland’s goal of becoming the first port-of-call on the Pacific Coast in jeopardy.