New Haven Harbor. Photo: Christian Hinkle via Shutterstock
July 29, 2020 (BOSTON, MA) – Fuel storage terminals on the banks of New Haven Harbor are an accident waiting to happen, with several sitting in flood-prone areas unprepared for the severe weather the climate crisis is already inflicting on the area. Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) has notified the owners of several of these facilities of its intent to sue and force the fossil fuel companies to protect the community from toxic spills. The letters were sent today to Gulf, Magellan, and Shell.
“Big oil has known about the risks of the climate crisis for decades, and their silence and inaction speak volumes,” said Brad Campbell, President of CLF. “The communities surrounding these terminals are constantly at risk of being inundated with a stew of oil and toxic materials. It’s long past time for these companies to step up and prepare their facilities for flooding and extreme weather. The courts must hold them accountable under current law to avoid catastrophe.”
CLF’s notice letters allege that Gulf, Magellan, 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 letters 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.
CLF experts are available for further comment.
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