Several Independence Day fireworks shows along the Los Angeles County coastline have been canceled in response to newly mandated environmental regulations.

The decision comes just one month after the LA Regional Water Quality Board adopted a permit to protect the fireworks display. Late MayThis requires new best practices aimed at reducing the plastic and other pollutants that can fall into oceans and marinas from fireworks displays.

The new permit was sparked by a federal lawsuit filed by environmentalists against Big Bang on the Bay in Long Beach, where the show violated the Clean Water Act by discharging pollutants into Alamitos Bay. claimed to have. Judge did not rule in favor of environmental groups, but trial evidence found at least one ‘firework-related contaminant’, prompting local water board to improve regulation of fireworks shows on waterways I was asked to

Discussion of environmental costs Fireworks, known to cause significant air pollution, continue to take place around the world many states In recent years, there has been a growing call for better supervision, and in some cases countries calling for a complete ban.of recent galapagos islands Restrict the sale and use of fireworks So did Beijing.

With the water department adopting the new permit requirements so close to Independence Day, officials “contacted known fireworks displays in the coastal waters of Los Angeles and Ventura counties to explain their permit requirements.” and offered to help with the permit application.” The board said in a statement.

From Long Beach to Marina Del Rey, most fireworks displays planned for Independence Day in the county are expected to comply with new standards aimed at protecting waterways from colorful explosions. However, given the new requirements, few fireworks displays will be held.

All these shows — there are at least five. 2 in Redondo Beach — was planning to use a company based in Rialto Pyro Spectaculars by Souza, The commission said it decided not to seek the necessary permits from the Los Angeles Water Commission.

“We cannot, and will not, jeopardize the safety of our employees and the public by following restrictive regulations,” Chief Executive Jim Souza said in a statement. “The Water Authority has enacted the new regulations swiftly and unilaterally with little input from us, one of the largest and most experienced firework show production companies in the country.”

Souza said his company strives to be environmentally friendly, but will not comply with new regulations for shows on waterways in Los Angeles and Ventura counties this year.

Water officials said various other fireworks businesses were also able to comply with the new permit requirements.

Two canceled shows at Redondo Beach seaside lagoon Or the city-run Kings Harbor Redondo Riviera, Established by a private organization. Pyro Spectaculars will also have a show at Pacific Palisades’ Bel Air Bay Club, which is currently doing a drone light show. A spokeswoman for Pyro Spectaculars said another canceled show will take place in Malibu, but did not specify the location. It wasn’t immediately clear where the canceled fifth show was to take place.

Redondo Beach Mayor Bill Brand told the city council earlier this month, “I’ve lived here a long time, but I think this is the first year without fireworks at King Harbor.”

Redondo Beach city manager Mike Witzanski worked to ensure the city and fire department complied with the new permit requirements from the water department within tight deadlines, but its vendor Pyro Spectaculars worked. Therefore, he called the result “disappointing”. , “I am uncomfortable trying to follow it,” he said.

He said it was too late to find another fireworks supplier or move the show to a land-based venue.

“We’re all disappointed,” Wisanski said at the meeting. “In relation to future shows, with these permit conditions, there are ways to hold barge-based shows in the future, but we will probably need to find alternative vendors.”

At least seven shows along the Los Angeles waterfront are in the permitting process and are expected to be approved, according to Los Angeles City Water Commissioner Norma Camacho. These shows include the Boat House on the Bay in Long Beach.of Marina Del Rey show; of port of los angeles‘Cars and Stripes Event June 30th and July 4th at Cabrillo Beach. The three Long Beach City-sponsored shows will take place at Harry Bridge Memorial Park, the Carnival Dock and the floating barge behind Queen’s Mary, according to the commission.

The Water Commission did not respond to questions about the Fourth of July fireworks scheduled for July 4, 2019. Catalina Island in Avalon BayHowever, a spokeswoman for the island’s tourism authority said the show was expected to proceed “in accordance with all applicable regulations.”

It’s not immediately clear how many shows are allowed in Ventura County or if any have been cancelled.

Camacho said there is still some time before the event receives a permit by July 4, but that it is “subject to the completeness of the permit application and best management practice plans.”

In the federal lawsuit that triggered the permit change, a judge ruled in April that there was no evidence of continued violations of the Clean Water Act, but noted that the 2022 show discharged pollutants into the bay. (The litigating Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation appealed this decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.)

Although the ruling was not in her group’s favour, one of CERF’s lead attorneys, Livia Borak Bourdin, said the ruling was still partly “because the court found that the defendants discharged pollutants.” said it was a decisive victory. He said the discovery helped enact these new regulations for fireworks displays, which he said were similar to the permits required by the San Diego and San Francisco water authorities for fireworks over waterways.

“I can understand why some people would be upset if the fireworks were canceled,” Bourdain said. “But we can move forward. We just need to regulate as much as we can to minimize damage to the environment.

At a water board meeting in May when members confirmed the permit, a representative for Pyro Spectaculars said the company was concerned about the safety of its pyrotechnicians. Pyrotechnicians need real-time visual monitoring during the show and cleanup immediately after the show. show. Water Commission officials said such teams could use unmanned video surveillance systems such as GoPro, noting: Permit certificate Only “practical and economically achievable” best practices are required.

Bourdain said the new permit for the Los Angeles area is the strongest yet, with stricter restrictions on plastic debris from fireworks and increased oversight to help the water department understand the extent of fireworks contamination. I am looking for

“I’m sorry about canceling Redondo Beach, but it’s a fireworks company,” she says. “Other companies have been able to comply.”