Long Beach
Long Beach restaurateur John Morris, who created the fundraiser Big Bang on the Bay fireworks show in 2011, is expected to be in federal court on Tuesday, Jan. 31, facing a lawsuit from Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation accusing him of polluting Alamitos Bay with debris from his annual charity fireworks display.
A ruling in this case could impact fireworks shows where fireworks are exploded over the water all over the region, including high-profile shows at Sea World in San Diego as well as displays in Huntington Beach, Marina del Rey, Dana Point, San Clemente, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach and San Pedro.
Morris says he has received permits every year from city and state governmental agencies, and followed orders from the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Board in 2022 for monitoring and regulating discharges for the July 3 show. The CERF complaint says that the show violates the Clean Water Act by discharging pollution — fireworks debris — in Alamitos Bay without a permit.
According to the lawsuit, “Typical firework constituents include, but are not limited to, aluminum, antimony, barium, carbon, calcium, chlorine, cesium, copper, iron, potassium, lithium, magnesium, oxidizers, including nitrates, chlorates and perchlorates, phosphorus, sodium sulfur, strontium, titanium and zinc.”
The suit also says: “Many of the enumerated pollutants are particularly harmful to aquatic wildlife and humans alike. Firework discharges can directly impact multiple beneficial uses of receiving waters. Releases copper can cause toxicity for organisms living on the bay bottom while fireworks debris can cause a condition of nuisance for people participating in recreational activities.”
Explosions from fireworks startle and disturb birds, the suit also alleges, including two endangered species — the brown pelican and least tern.
Each year, Big Bang on the Bay includes a block party next to Boathouse on the Bay, the restaurant Morris manages, flyovers,…
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