VICTORY
Boeing lost their lawsuit and we helped protect the Los Angeles River and Ventura’s Calleguas Creek Watershed
NPDES Permit
Back in 2023, Parents Against Santa Susana Field Lab joined forces with other environmental groups to push for a stronger NPDES permit (the permit that regulates how much pollution from the Santa Susana Field Lab can enter our local watersheds).
Boeing had already been fined over $1 million for past violations by allowing the lab's lead, arsenic, mercury, radionuclides, and perchlorate, and more to contaminate the surrounding waterways. Yet, Boeing was about to get a weaker permit, allowing them to release even more pollution offsite.
How We Won
During the permit renewal process, many of you spoke up, calling in to demand stronger protections for our community’s health and environment. PASSFL and Jeff Ruch from PEER.org made a compelling case to the Los Angeles Water Board, advocating for:
More testing locations for runoff
Stronger pollution limits
A groundwater contamination study
Better detection technology for PCBs and PFAS
We weren’t alone—groups like Heal the Bay, LA Waterkeeper, and Physicians for Social Responsibility - LA, and the Wishtoyo Chumash Foundation fought for the tougher permit too.
And guess what? The Water Board listened. Board members began questioning why Boeing always got the benefit of the doubt, why they weren’t demanding better data, and why they weren’t taking the community’s health concerns more seriously. By the end of the hearing, the Los Angeles Water Board approved our requests and strengthened the permit. A huge victory!
Boeing Fought Back... and Lost
As soon as the permit was updated, Boeing tried everything to stop it:
They asked the State Water Board to review the decision but were denied.
They filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Water Board.
They asked for a "stay" so they wouldn't have to comply with the new permit while in court—denied again.
The Truth Comes Out
One of the most important changes in the permit forced Boeing to use newer technology to detect PCBs and PFAS. For the first time, these contaminants showed up in Boeing’s reports.
First-quarter results from 2024 revealed:
40+ detections of PCBs (previously “undetected” under older methods)
38 detections of PFAS
Lead levels at 200 ppb (safe drinking water limit: 5 ppb)
Radioactive material found 44 times, including: Gross alpha and beta analytes, Radium-226 & 228, Strontium-90, and Uranium
This proves what we’ve always known—Boeing’s pollution is a serious threat, and they’ve been underreporting it for years. Thanks to our collective efforts, we forced Boeing to reveal the true extent of contamination.
This is your victory. Your voices mattered. The fight isn’t over, but this win is a powerful step toward holding Boeing accountable and protecting our water, health, and future.
Stay tuned for what’s next—we're just getting started!
Further reading:
