Under the Federal Clean Water Act (CWA), every two years the State is required to compile a list of waters that do not meet basic ‘fishable-swimmable’ standards due to elevated pollution levels. These water bodies receive priority status for clean-up. The State Water Resources Control Board has developed the draft 2002 list, and is holding public workshops on the proposed list, also known as the 303(d) list.

ACTION: We need your support!

Join Environmental Health Coalition and other environmental activists to ask that the waters near Crosby Street Park and the South Bay Power Plant be listed as impaired on the 303(d) list.

The Clean Water Act, 303(d) listing

The 303(d) list, named after the section in the CWA that requires it, is a critical tool that allows us to address pollution problems that plague many of our nation’s rivers, creeks, lagoons, bays and coastal waters. Importantly, the listing:

• Raises public awareness of the health of local waters;
• Provides important regulatory tools aimed at restoring impaired waters; and
• Allows local municipalities, agencies and concerned citizen groups to access much-needed funding geared toward restoring listed waters.

The State's Bay Protection and Toxic Cleanup Program conducted extensive sediment sampling in San Diego Bay. Testing of site near the Crosby Street Park showed contamination of sediments with Chlordane, PCB, mercury, by-products of car and truck (PAH), copper, and zinc. Sediments exhibited toxicity to some marine life. While the study did not list this site as a high priority for follow up action, this site is adjacent to a heavily used community park and is the highest priority area of the Bay for the communities of Barrio Logan, Logan Heights and Sherman Heights. It is currently posted that no swimming and no fishing is allowed although people often swim and fish from the park and off the "viewing" pier.

Crosby Street Park should be added to the 303(d) list because:

• There is demonstrated toxicity of the sediments;
• There is demonstrated chemical contamination of the sediments; and 
• The community is being denied the enjoyment and use of this water body as it is not safe to swim or fish in the area.

Obsolete operations at the SBPP are damaging the San Diego Bay ecosystem and degrading the base of the food chain with hot water, chlorine and other toxic chemicals. The waters around the SBPP should be added to the 303(d) list because:

• There is demonstrated thermal pollution of the water; and 
• There is demonstrated chemical pollution, particularly chlorine and copper, of the water and the sediments

BayKeeper has submitted a list of other priority areas such as the San Diego River. For a more complete list, contact San Diego BayKeeper at (619) 758-7743.

Click here for sample letters to the State Water Board. Please complete and return these to EHC by May 27, 2002

For more information about the 303(d) listing, please contact Laura Hunter, Director of EHC’s Clean Bay Campaign at (619) 235-0281 or email LauraH@environmentalhealth.com