San Francisco Attorney Files Lawsuit To Shut Down Mirant Power Plant

Published: 28-Apr-2009

By: Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer

Dennis Herrera, San Francisco City attorney, has filed a lawsuit in an attempt to close Mirant Corporation’s (Mirant) large power station located south of Mission Bay. The lawsuit alleges that Mirant has not abided by the laws necessitating that brick structures be retrofitted. The 40-year-old power station has a polluting smokestack, operates under an expired permit enabling it to extract millions of gallons of water daily and return to the bay heated discharge, destroying fish larvae.

The power plant is also polluted with coal tar from 19th century gas production operations. The city attorney claims that the facility has five un-reinforced brick edifices in which masonry, rather than steel or wood, function as the building’s frame.

Mirant does not need to clean up the coal tar contamination, as the earlier owner Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is responsible for that. PG&E is presenting examining the area's offshore sediment. Chemical experts have stated that pollution from the site is penetrating into bay mud in concentrations that are hazardous for humans and marine life.

The lawsuit filed claims that Mirant must pay fines of up to $500 daily for violation of each city building code and $2,500 per day for breaching the state's Business and Professions Code.

Herrera said “To the list of corporate lawlessness that includes polluting our air, ground and water, we can now add Mirant's defiant refusal to address the safety risks to its own employees.”

Julia Houston, Mirant spokeswoman, stated that the company will not comment on the lawsuit.

Tell your friend about this article