Coastkeeper Foregoes Litigation; Fireworks to be Discontinued Until Permit Secured
Anheuser Busch’s Sea World Adventure Park has announced its intention to cease its fireworks displays until it secures appropriate discharge permits from the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board.
This decision comes in response to San Diego Coastkeeper’s June 26, 2006 filing of a 60-day Notice of Intent (NOI) to bring litigation to enforce the Clean Water Act’s mandate that a permit be obtained for displays that release potentially dangerous chemicals into Mission Bay. Given the announcement by Sea World’s attorneys, Coastkeeper will forego litigation it expected to file in early September.
Each summer, Sea World discharges fireworks from a barge in Mission Bay during its “Sky Blast” show. Despite nearly 150 fireworks displays annually, Sea World has never applied for nor secured the required NPDES discharge permit from the Regional Water Board. When fireworks are shot off over Mission Bay, chemicals found in those fireworks fall into the Bay, as does paper trash (firework casing) that is potentially laden with chemicals. Some of the hazardous compounds found in fireworks and potentially in Mission Bay include: perchlorate salts, arsenic, chromium, copper, strontium, mercury, cadmium, lead and zinc. The impacts of fireworks displays on water quality are not well known, and regulation of these activities could result in further monitoring and research in this area.
Click here for press release..
Click here for additional info.