ORANGE, CA – Orange County Coastkeeper (Coastkeeper), a local clean-water advocacy organization, has successfully employed the Clean Water Act to improve local water quality by reducing industrial stormwater pollution from RJ Noble Company, an asphalt manufacturer in Orange.
As a result of Coastkeeper’s legal action that led to a mutual agreement, RJ Noble has made major upgrades to its facility, which sits adjacent to the Santa Ana River. These improvements include a one-million-gallon system that captures runoff and recycles it into the plant’s production process, along with a state-of-the-art stormwater treatment system for intense storms. Together, these systems eliminate polluted stormwater discharges and reduce the facility’s demand for potable water.
Stormwater runoff from industrial facilities is one of the leading threats to clean water in Orange County and the nation. When it rains, pollutants can flow untreated into storm drains, eventually reaching the region’s rivers and coastline. The Clean Water Act empowers citizens and community organizations like Coastkeeper to hold industrial polluters accountable when they fail to meet water quality standards.
“The Clean Water Act is one of our nation’s strongest tools for defending public health,” said Garry Brown, Founder and President of Orange County Coastkeeper. “Those who established the Act decades ago knew that government oversight would not be enough to ensure swimmable, drinkable, and fishable waters for all. They built in citizen enforcement so communities could protect themselves. Coastkeeper is proud to be the legal arm of our concerned community members who all strive for cleaner waters.”
Over the past 26 years, Coastkeeper has brought more than 150 enforcement actions against polluters in the region, leading to cleaner waterways, stronger compliance, and healthier communities. This recent case demonstrates the power of the Clean Water Act to encourage collaboration between groups like Coastkeeper and industrial operators across Southern California.
“It is rewarding to see the citizen suit provision work to create positive change,” said Sarah Spinuzzi, Legal Director at Orange County Coastkeeper. “Based on our observations and collected data, RJ Noble’s facility in Orange was a large source of industrial stormwater pollution. Now, they are a local leader in industrial stormwater management. I’m very proud of what they have accomplished.”
Coastkeeper continues to patrol the region for polluting facilities through its team of expert environmental attorneys and water-quality monitors. Many of Coastkeeper’s cases begin with tips from concerned residents. The organization encourages anyone who witnesses suspicious stormwater pollution to file a report at coastkeeper.org.
