New Haven Harbor. Photo: Christian Hinkle via Shutterstock
July 7, 2021 (BOSTON, MA) – Gulf Oil and Shell Oil’s New Haven fuel storage terminals sit directly in a flood zone, ready to spill oil and toxic chemicals into neighborhoods as well as New Haven Harbor and Long Island Sound. Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) filed lawsuits today to force the companies to prepare this facility for flooding and extreme storms driven by climate change after years of inaction.
“A flood at one of these terminals would spell disaster for surrounding communities,” said CLF President Bradley Campbell. “Yet both Shell and Gulf have failed to prepare for increasingly frequent extreme weather and have even sought to expand their facilities without addressing climate risk. These big oil companies must take the necessary steps to prevent oil and toxic chemicals from flooding into nearby homes and waterways.”
CLF’s lawsuit alleges that Gulf and Shell are violating the Clean Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act by operating these fuel storage terminals without the proper protections for flooding and extreme weather. The lawsuit against Gulf can be found here, and the Shell suit can be found here.
CLF has previously sued Exxon and Shell in two similar cases regarding facilities in Everett, MA and Providence, RI. These terminals have also failed to prepare for the impacts of the climate crisis, and both of those cases are proceeding to trial.
CLF experts are available for further comment.
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