SR-511-000 (3)
Clty Councll Offlce CER:cls
Councl1 Meeting of 11/11/86
Santa Monlca, Callfornia
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MlN 11 1986
TO
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Council Members
i1-
Mayor Chrlstine E. Ree~\-)~
Support for The U.S. Department of Justlce and the EPA
ln U.S. Dlstrlct Court Case vs Chevron #CV 865574
The Clty of Hermosa Beach has requested the Clty of Santa Monlca to jOln
them in thelr support of the U.s. Department of Justlce and the EPA in
a laWsult agalnst Chevron 011 Company. The laWsult was flled to
protect the coastal enVlronment.
It 1S my oplnion that coastal cltles
must stand together and take every posslble action to protect the bay
from further pollution by coastal lndustrles and storm drain outfalls.
Attachments: Letter from C1ty of Hermosa Beach
14-])
HOV 11 1986
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CIVIC CENTER HERMOSA BEACH CALIFORNIA ~0254
CITY HALL (213) 37&.6984
October 15. 19B6 '''''; "~'~'~"J~~;{;y
Ms. Christine Reed. Mayor
City of Santa Monica
1685 Main Street
Santa Monica. CA 90401
CONSIDERATION OF SUPPORTING THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE: \~ ~.'
AND EPA IN U.S. DISTRICT COURT CASE YS CHEVRON ICY 865574 \ ~
Dear Mayor Reed: ~ ,
The City of Hermosa Beach is most concerned about the standard of Xl ~!\
quality in the South Bay ocean. Recently it has become quite ~~)
apparent that ocean pollution is occurring from storm drain out- ~L
lets and perhaps from various coastal industries. Al
The City wishes to make every reasonable effort to stem that lr
tide. The Hermosa Beach City Council has therefore unanimously
(Councilmember Cioffi absent) advised the U.S. Attorney General
of our concerns as it relates to their litigation with Chevron.
Attached is a copy of our correspondence and the reply from U.S. jiJ /
Attorney Bonner. It is respectfully requested that this matter l'~,
be placed before your City Council for the purpose of your agency\v ~;
joining with us in supporting the U.S. Justice Department action. ~ JK
Additionally. we have continuing concerns regarding the potential\Q~~
of toxic waste emissions from storm drain outlets. In our case l
the County storm drains that have their outlets at our beach col- ~v
lect fluids from a considerable distance inland. The potential ~
for harmful chemicals to be dumped is great; there is little done l~
in the way of regular, methodical monitoring. \ -~0
G(,~ -'
We are therefore seeking from the County a much more extensive
and aggressive monitoring program. Would your agency join with
us in seeking such public protection? I would appreciate hearing
from you or your staff in that regard.
I-b~
~
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As neighboring coastal cities we each have a significant public
trust responsibility to protect and maintain a qualitative South
Bay. Public health and safety however can only be dealt with on
a collective basis. We earnestly hope that you will join with us
in a leadsership role to protect and preserve that precious
resource. the ocean of the South Bay.
Sincerely.
gAi21C~ (1\~<'L
Gre ory T.lMeyer
Cit Manager
CITY OF HERMOSA BEACH
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u.~. Uepartment 01 JustIce
RCD:gd
(213) 894-2401
Umted States Attorney
Central D.stnct of California
Un.lt~d Stares Cou.rthouse
312 North Sp,mg Street
Los Angeles, CalIfornIa 9(X)J2
October 8, 1986
Janes P. Lough, Esq.
CIty Attorney
CIty of Hernosa Beach
1605 H. 01ynplc Boulevard
SUlte 910
Los Angeles, CA 90015
OCT 9 f~86
Re: Unlted States v. Chevron Corp.
No. CV 86-5574-RG(Px)
Dear Hr. Lough:
ThanJ~ you for your letter of SeptcJ:lber 19, 1936, and the Clty
of ilermosa ileach's offer of ass1stance and support 1n the
referenced actlon.
I have forwarded your letter to Ass1stant Unlted States
Attor~ey Janes Arnold "ho 1S handllng the l1t1gatlon In thIS
offIce.
Ver~rUlY yours,
~ER
UnIted States Attorney
cc: AUSA James Arnold
Law Offices of James P. Lough
JAMES P. LOUGH
September 19, 1986
H/l5 WEST OlYMPIC 8l VO
SUITE 918
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 'X.015
(213) 38H131
Robert C. Bonner
united States Attorney
united States Attorney's Office
312 North Spring Street
Los Angeles, California 90012
Re: United States v. Chevron
USDC Case No. CV 86 5574-RG(Px)
Dear Mr. Bonner:
I currently serve as the City Attorney for the City of
Hermosa Beach and have been directed by the City Council to
contact you regarding the above-mentioned matter. The City
Council has voted to have me inform you that they are very
interested in the suit brought by the U.S. Attorney's Office
against Chevron because of the proximity of the Chevron
facility to the boundaries of Hermosa Beach. The City Council
is very concerned about environmental damage to the fragile
coast line and hereby expresses its interest in this matter.
If there is anything that the city can do in this matter to
help your office, please feel free to contact the undersigned.
currently, no monitoring is done of the water in Hermosa Beach
for pollutants, but the City would be willing to discuss any
potential steps which would help you in the prosecution of your
case. Again, the city Council expresses its support of your
actions and that of your department in filing this suit against
Chevron to preserve our coastal environment. If you have any
questions regarding any of the above-ment~oned matters, please
feel free to contact the undersigned.
Yours very truly,
LAW OFFICES OF ~AMES P. LOUGH
By
9a~1~(? '.I:our @
J~ES P. LOUGH, City Attorney
CITY OF HERMOSA BEACH
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