Fishing organizations on the West Coast have filed a federal lawsuit against 13 prominent U.S. tire manufacturers, alleging illegal harm to endangered salmon and oceangoing trout due to the use of toxic chemicals in their products. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, claims that these companies have violated the U.S. Endangered Species Act through the discharge of 6PPD-quinone, a chemical derived from a tire preservative linked to adverse effects on salmon populations.
The Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations and the Institute for Fisheries Resources assert that the chemical is harming Chinook and steelhead, in addition to its documented impact on coho salmon returning to Puget Sound streams. The complaint identifies two dozen endangered populations of salmonids along the West Coast affected by the chemical.
Researchers found in 2020 that 6PPD-quinone was responsible for approximately 40% of coho salmon deaths in the Puget Sound area, killing significant percentages of coho before they could spawn in certain urban streams. Toxic concentrations of the chemical have been confirmed in watersheds in San Francisco, Seattle, and Los Angeles, with stormwater runoff identified as a significant contributor to the decline of the identified salmon populations.
The lawsuit coincides with the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to review the use of the chemical in tires. The complaint comes from tribes, including Port Gamble S’Klallam, Puyallup, and Yurok, alongside states like Washington, Oregon, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, all urging the EPA to prohibit the chemical’s use due to its threat to waters and fisheries.
Joseph L. James, chair of the Yurok Tribe, emphasized the urgency of addressing the issue, stating, “We could not sit idle while 6PPD kills the fish that sustain us.” The complaint underscores the need to hold tire companies accountable for the harm caused to threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead species.
The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association, while aware of the lawsuit, refrained from commenting on ongoing litigation. The association highlighted ongoing efforts to research and develop alternative tire materials that prioritize sustainability and environmental respect. The lawsuit aims to address the industry’s knowledge of the problem and its alleged inaction in resolving it.