AT&T to remove lead cables from Lake Tahoe under decontamination settlement
AT&T has agreed to remove thousands of pounds of lead cables that have been submerged in Lake Tahoe for decades, according to a settlement agreement announced on Wednesday.
As part of the settlement, AT&T will remove approximately 107,000 pounds of unused cables from the lake. The California Sportfishing Protection Alliance initially filed the lawsuit in 2021, alleging that the lead from the cables was contaminating multiple areas of the lake and creating a widespread risk of exposure. Elevated levels of lead were confirmed in both the water and sediment around the cables, according to the lawsuit.
"This is a monumental win for the environment, the communities who drink Lake Tahoe water, the people with lake-dependent livelihoods, and the millions of annual visitors," CSPA executive director Chris Shutes said in a statement.
After a conditional settlement in 2022, AT&T resumed litigation to challenge the validity of CSPA's claims. The lawsuit alleged that the cables were releasing lead in violation of California's Proposition 65,
According to CSPA, the paper-wrapped copper wire cables are composed of spiral-wound steel rods and coated with a fiber layer impregnated with bitumen tar. Each foot of these cables contains approximately 3.39 pounds of lead, with around six miles of these cables submerged underwater.
The study conducted by scientists hired by the CSPA's attorneys analyzed the lake's water, sediment, and microscopic plants known as biofilms or algae. These biofilms, which serve as a food source for fish, were found to contain lead concentrations 67,000 times higher in samples taken from the cables compared to those taken from a rock.
"AT&T will try to have the cables out by November 30, 2024, and is committing to have them out by May 26, 2025," Shutes told CBS KPIX.
AT&T was contacted for a reaction to the settlement. In addition to confirming that a settlement had been reached -- subject to court approval -- they provided the following statement that was published on the Keep Tahoe Blue/League to Save Lake Tahoe website on Wednesday:
"Multiple expert analyses have confirmed that the telecommunications cables in Lake Tahoe are safe and pose no threat to public health or the environment. While we're confident in the strength of our case and the safety of the cables, this settlement represents an amicable resolution to litigation. With the litigation behind us, we are fulfilling our original commitment to remove the cables in Lake Tahoe," said AT&T President-California Marc Blakeman. "In 2021, we agreed to remove these cables to avoid the distraction and expense of protracted litigation. Last summer, following news reports regarding the cables, we paused the removal process to allow for further analysis by experts. Now that these studies have been performed and confirmed the safety of the cables, we can return to our commitment to remove the cables."
The post also included the below statement from the nonprofit League to Save Lake Tahoe.
"We welcome this announcement and appreciate AT&T's commitment to resume the removal of these cables. Lake Tahoe is a special place and deserves this kind of protective action to Keep Tahoe Blue," said Jesse Patterson, Chief Strategy Officer for the League to Save Lake Tahoe. "It's encouraging to see a major corporation stand by its word, and we look forward to continuing our work with AT&T and regulatory agencies to ensure their commitment to remove the cables is fulfilled – both safely and in the near term."