Stormwater runoff from Sims Metal facilities, like this one in New Haven, Connecticut, regularly polluted nearby rivers and other waterways with toxic metals like lead, copper, and zinc. Photo by Conservation Law Foundation
October 10, 2024 (Boston, MA) – Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) has notified Sims Metal of its intent to sue for Clean Water Act violations at eight scrap metal facilities in Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and Maryland. The company’s stormwater runoff regularly polluted nearby rivers and other waterways with toxic metals like lead, copper, and zinc.
“The heavy metal pollution from these Sims Metal facilities poisons our rivers and nearby communities. It is illegal and it is harmful,” said Chelsea Kendall, Staff Attorney at CLF. “Sims Metal needs to follow the law and get their stormwater runoff under control, because everyone has a right to clean water.”
The Sims Metal facilities identified in CLF’s lawsuit as releasing polluted stormwater are located in Providence and Johnston, Rhode Island; New Haven and North Haven, Connecticut; Long Island City, New York; and Baltimore and Rockville, Maryland. Most of these facilities are located in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color where residents are already burdened by pollution.
Every time it rains, toxic metals from the piles of uncovered broken and rusted metal at these sites flows into beloved waterways and their tributaries, including the Providence River in Rhode Island, the West River and the Quinnipiac River in Connecticut, the East River in New York, and the Back River and Potomac River in Maryland. Heavy metal runoff causes poor water quality, harms natural ecosystems and aquatic life, and causes health problems in humans when ingested.
CLF’s notice of intent can be found here.
This is CLF’s second recent lawsuit to enforce the Clean Water Act at scrap metal yards. CLF settled a similar lawsuit in 2023 against companies owned by Schnitzer Steel (now known as Radius Recycling), which paid nearly $2 million to community organizations working to restore local waters.
CLF experts are available for further comment.
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