Environmentalists Sue Port Over Coal Terminal
A coalition of environmental groups has sued the Port of Los Angeles, alleging that harbor officials failed to adequately assess the environmental impacts of redeveloping a controversial coal terminal.
The San Pedro-Wilmington Coalition for Environmental Justice and Santa Monica BayKeeper filed the case Thursday in Superior Court to challenge new cargo facilities planned for Berths 48 to 52, the former site of Kaiser International Corp.
Kaiser used to ship coal and petroleum coke from the 28-acre facility before it was closed three years ago. The old terminal is the target of an earlier BayKeeper lawsuit that seeks the removal of potentially harmful coal and petroleum coke that was left at the terminal and in the water.
The new lawsuit contends the environmental impact report for the terminal project does not mention the remaining coal and coke on the site nor does it assess potential impacts the new terminal would have on air and water quality.
Harbor commissioners have approved plans to build new facilities for such cargo as automobiles, steel and wood products.
Port officials declined to discuss the lawsuit Friday, saying they have not had time to consider its allegations.
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