Brownfields Assessment Pilot Fact Sheet

BACKGROUND

EPA Region 9 has selected the City of San Diego for a Regional Brownfields Pilot. The Pilot efforts will continue the City's work to revitalize the predominantly Hispanic community of Barrio Logan located south of downtown San Diego. Barrio Logan is designated as a Federal Enterprise Community and also as a State Enterprise Zone. The neighborhood has a population of 109,094, 85 percent of whom are of Hispanic/Latino origin, and 24 percent of the residents are linguistically isolated (i.e., primarily Spanish speakers). It has an unemployment rate of 15.2 percent, compared to a City-wide rate of 5.3 percent. The neighborhood includes several chemical storage/manufacturing and metal plating facilities. The risks posed by the presence of these facilities in the Barrio are magnified by small lots and extremely close proximity to residences.

In 1992, the City responded to continuing problems caused by the juxtaposition of these facilities within the neighborhood. A variety of local organizations and individuals have been deeply involved in the effort to address environmental justice and community revitalization issues in the Barrio. The City has partnered with community organizations, non-profit groups, and local businesses to find ways to revitalize the neighborhood, which has been negatively impacted by poor zoning and land use planning.

OBJECTIVES

The Pilot's highest priority will be to stimulate economic development and enhance the public health and environmental quality of the Barrio Logan community. The City has taken numerous strides towards achieving this goal by initiating consultations and workshops, developing a task force to identify potentially contaminated sites, and making recommendations regarding cleanup and relocation alternatives. To achieve its objectives, the City plans to conduct a series of workshops and discussions (in both English and Spanish) with residents, industry representatives, community leaders, and technical experts. In addition to the focus on assessment and cleanup, the City intends to make specific recommendations to change land use designations and zoning requirements that result in incompatible land uses.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ACTIVITIES

The Pilot will:

• Develop a computerized Geographic Information System (GIS) listing as properties are identified;

• Conduct detailed site assessments on identified properties;

• Prepare complete environmental assessment reports and cleanup plans, including alternative cost estimates for cleanup;

• Develop future land uses for the affected properties;

• Continue bilingual community outreach efforts, including preparing bilingual outreach materials that can be used by other organizations with brownfields issues in Hispanic communities;

• Hold several stakeholder workshops to encourage participation in the project;

• Work with the Perkins Elementary School and the San Diego Unified School District to develop presentations about the brownfields project;

• Establish a Project Team that includes the City, the Environmental Health Coalition, the MAAC Project (a non-profit housing and social services organization), the California Center for Land Recycling (a State-wide non-profit organization that provides assistance to overcome brownfields redevelopment challenges), the San Diego County Department of Health, and EPA to help guide the project; and

• Establish a model applicable throughout San Diego and other urban areas for dealing with similar brownfields issues.

CONTACTS

Sara Ruiz
City of San Diego Redevelopment Agency
(619) 236-6925
s5r@sdcity.sannet.gov

Bobbie Kahan
U.S. EPA - Region 9
(415) 744-2191
kahan.bobbie@epamail.epa.gov

Visit the EPA Brownfields Website at: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/