Court Asked to Restore Ocean Pollution Claims

State and federal attorneys on Thursday asked a federal judge to restore an ocean pollution claim filed last June against eight companies and the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts.

U.S. District Judge A. Andrew Hauk dismissed the claim last week, saying it failed to detail the damage done by DDT and PCB pollutants from Montrose Chemical Corp., Westinghouse Electric Corp. and the other defendants. He gave the plaintiffs--the federal government and the state of California--until May 28 to amend and refile the claim.

In a motion Thursday, state and federal attorneys argued they have established sufficient basis for the claim, which centers on toxic sewage discharges off the Palos Verdes Peninsula in the 1950s, ‘60s and early ‘70s. They asked Hauk to rescind his order or turn the matter over to a federal appeals court for a ruling. A hearing on the motion is scheduled for May 6.