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Environmental Health Coalition

Angelica Estrada

National City Planning Commission Opposes Controversial Fuel Transfer Station

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NATIONAL CITY PLANNING COMMISSION VOTED AGAINST USDG’S PROPOSED FUEL TRANSFER STATION

USD Group’s proposed fuel transfer station would increase lung-damaging diesel truck traffic within a mile of an elementary school, homes, and a church in National City. 

NATIONAL CITY, CA, SEPTEMBER 15, 2025 – The National City Planning Commission voted against approval (4 to 1) of USD Group LLC’s (USDG) proposed fuel transfer station. This project would be located less than a mile from Kimball Elementary School and Saint Anthony de Padua Church and would require the service of 72 lung-damaging, diesel-polluting oil tankers a day. Diesel emissions are known to cause cancer, damage lungs, and contribute to breathing problems like asthma. USDG is expected to appeal the decision to the National City Council. 

“The community has made it loud and clear they do not want this dangerous project in their neighborhood poisoning the lungs of their children,” said Jose Franco Garcia, the executive director of Environmental Health Coalition. “The commissioners did the right thing by listening to the community and rejecting USDG’s fuel transfer station.  If USDG chooses to appeal the decision, we have a strong coalition that will continue to push the National City Council to choose the health of its residents over corporate profit and stop this project.” 

Prior to the Commission’s vote, EHC, Olivewood Gardens, and SanDiego350 held a rally at Kimball Park against the controversial project.  

“As a clergy person, I consider it would be an immoral action to increase the amount of toxic gases produced by the burning of fossil fuels by up to 72 large trucks passing through National City every day, adding to the already bad air quality in this area of  National City,” said Father Emmet Farrell, founder/member of Creation Care Ministry. 

Following the rally, the coalition marched to City Hall to attend the Commission’s public hearing on the project. Close to 40 people gave testimony against USDG. 

“I have a son with asthma, and I can see his struggle to breathe,” testified Margarita Morales, a National City resident, during the hearing. “Our health is more important than money.” 

USD Group has agreed to pay National City $200,000 a year in “economic benefit” for the life of the project. These funds would not have to be used for clean air or health improvement projects to mitigate the harmful effects of the transfer station. According to Data USA, as of 2023, National City is home to an estimated 55,960 residents. $200,000 divided by 55,960 is just over $3.50. USD Group is anticipating that the fuel transfer station will receive 13,800 barrels of biofuel a day. On average, a barrel of biofuel costs $140, per the U.S. Department of Energy. The company will be bringing in an estimated $2 million a day. 

“We are so thankful that the Planning Commission chose to protect the health of our children and community over the minimal short-term gain USDG is offering,” said Jen Nation, the executive director of Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center. “We are calling on the National City Council to do the same! Our health, the health of our families, and the health of Kimball Elementary School shouldn’t have a price tag — it is priceless.” 

In advance of a possible National City Council vote, EHC is asking residents to email the Council and demand they REJECT USDG’s proposed fuel transfer station. To send the email, visit bit.ly/RejectUSDG-email. Si hablas español, puedes enviarlo desde aquí: bit.ly/RECHAZEN-USDG-correo.  

EHC gathered over 1,000 signatures urging the National City Council to reject USDG’s Fuel Transfer Station. By unanimous vote, the National School District passed a proclamation opposing the transfer station – linked here. The transfer station is also opposed by the Local 1931 of the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO, California Nurses Assocation, Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, AB 617 Portside Environmental Justice Community Steering Committee, and Interfaith Coalition for Earth Justice. 

BACKGROUND: 

USD Group, LLC (USDG) is proposing to build a fuel transfer station in National City, on West 18th St, less than a ½ mile away from Kimball Elementary and St. Anthony of Padua Church. Railcars would carry toxic fuel to the station and transfer it to heavy-duty trucks to distribute it throughout San Diego.  

Running 24 hours a day, seven days a week, this project would dramatically increase the number of diesel-polluting trucks driving past National City homes, schools, parks, and churches. West National City already breathes more diesel pollution than 90% of communities in CA. Diesel emissions are known to cause cancer, damage lungs, and contribute to breathing problems like asthma.  

The trains and trucks associated with this project would carry large quantities of highly flammable, toxic chemicals. If they crash or have an accident, it puts the neighborhood at risk of a major catastrophe, like in Palestine, Ohio, where a train carrying chemicals crashed, causing a fire and evacuations.  

On Monday, June 2, 2025, the National City Planning Commission postponed its original vote on the project at the request of the California Coastal Commission. In a letter, the Coastal Commission requested “…additional time for our staffs to work together to address the project’s inconsistencies with the City’s Local Coastal Program (LCP) and the Coastal Act…”  The letter also read, “the city’s responses to commission staff’s comments regarding environmental justice concerns have been inadequate.” 

KEY FACTS: 

  • The station would require 70-240 heavy-duty diesel trucks (oil tankers) per day 
  • Diesel emissions are known to cause cancer, damage lungs, and contribute to breathing problems like asthma 
  • West National City already breathes more diesel pollution than 90% of communities in CA 
  • Children in National City have a higher rate of asthma emergency room visits than the county average 
  • In Portside communities, 84% of cancer risk is from diesel pollution 

To learn more, visit bit.ly/USDGFuel25, and to download the fact sheet – click here. You can read the California Coastal Commission’s letter here. 

CONTACT: 

Angelica Estrada 

angelicae@environmentalhealth.org 

562-708-3093 

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Environmental Health Coalition (EHC) works for environmental justice in the San Diego/Tijuana region and throughout California. Founded in 1980, EHC has worked to reduce pollution and improve health and well-being for thousands of people in underserved, low-income communities. 

RECHAZO A LA ESTACIÓN DE TRANSFERENCIA DE COMBUSTIBLE USDG

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Estimado Cabildo de National City,

Las industrias contaminantes no deben estar cerca de nuestros hogares, escuelas e iglesias. Por lo anterior, les pido que RECHAZEN la estación de transferencia de combustible propuesta por USDG. Esta estación estaría en la calle 18 Oeste, a 550 pies de la casa residencial más cercana y a menos de 1/2 milla de la Escuela Primaria Kimball y de la Iglesia Católica San Antonio de Padua.

La estación requeriría del servicio diario de 115 camiones diésel de carga pesada (para transporte de petróleo) que son altamente contaminantes. Los residentes de Westside National City ya estan respirando más aire contaminado con diésel que el 90% de las comunidades de California. Se sabe que respirar emisiones de escape con diesel daña los pulmones y provoca cáncer. Para colmo de males, los trenes y camiones que transportan petróleo estarían movilizando grandes cantidades de sustancias químicas peligrosas a lo largo de nuestras comunidades aumentando el riesgo de una contingencia catastrófica – como el caso ocurrido en Palestina, Ohio.

Este proyecto aumentaría el tráfico de estos camiones y la carga de contaminantes dañinos para los pulmones, introduciría el riesgo de una contingencia y descarrilaría los objetivos locales de aire limpio. Por favor, protejan nuestra salud y seguridad votando en contra del proyecto de USDG Fuels, LLC.

Para obtener más información, haga clic aquí.

Gracias,
Su Nombre

EPA Terminates $20 Million Grant for Climate-resilience Projects in San Diego

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Environmental Health Coalition Responds to EPA’s Official Termination of a $20 Million Community Change Grant for Climate-resilience Projects in San Diego.

On May 2, 2025, Environmental Health Coalition (EHC) learned that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had officially terminated a $20 million Community Change Grant (CCG) to fund clean-air and climate-resilience projects in San Diego’s Historic Central Barrios; – Barrio Logan, Logan Heights, Sherman Heights, Stockton, Shelltown, Southcrest, Mount Hope, Grant Hill.  

The official letter of termination stated, “this EPA Assistance Agreement is terminated effective immediately on the grounds that the remaining portion of the Federal award will not accomplish the EPA funding priorities for achieving program goals. The objectives of the award are no longer consistent with EPA funding priorities.” 

In response, EHC’s Executive Director, Jose Franco Garcia issues the following statement: 

The EPA terminated this grant because of who it was going to help – low-income communities of color who have unfairly suffered for generations from toxic, lung-damaging pollution and severe underinvestment. This grant would have helped fund air filters for children with asthma, home upgrades for low-income families, non-polluting buses, and more in these neighborhoods. We need to ask ourselves why this administration doesn’t want children with asthma breathing cleaner air? If clean air and a healthy environment are not consistent with this EPA’s priorities, then what is? 

This is a huge hit to our communities, but EHC’s commitment to fight for environmental justice is unwavering, regardless of who is in the Oval Office. Environmental justice is the simple idea that all people deserve to live, work, and play in a clean and safe environment no matter what their zip code is. Now, we are calling on California’s Strategic Growth Council to step up and use Prop 4 funding to get the community back some of what was lost with the EPA grant termination.

Background 

In 2024, the EPA awarded the CCG to the San Diego Foundation (SDF) to help fund the now impacted projects, which are part of Rooted in Communidad, Cultivating Equity, a joint initiative with EHC to develop climate-resilient projects that will preserve, protect and strengthen San Diego’s Central Historic Barrios. Without the CCG funding: 

  • the Boston Avenue Linear Park, a project decades in the making, is defunded. 
  • the MTS Electric Bus Program, a key project to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, is canceled.  
  • the Holistic Healthy Homes program will have to provide fewer low-income families with free home upgrades that improve air quality, lower energy costs, and make homes more resilient to climate change disasters.   
  • Workforce Development Programs to provide training and placement in good-paying green jobs will face deep cuts.  
  • La Via Verde, Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center’s free electric shuttle service – which reduces air pollution and traffic – will have to decrease ride services drastically. 

EHC, SDF, and a coalition of community partners will continue their work on the remaining RICCE projects, which will contribute to a community that is cleaner, healthier, and better prepared for climate change disasters. These projects are wholly or partially funded by a $22 million Transformative Climate Communities grant.  

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About Environmental Health Coalition 

Environmental Health Coalition (EHC) works for environmental justice in the San Diego/Tijuana region and throughout California. Founded in 1980, EHC has worked to reduce pollution and improve health and well-being for thousands of people in underserved, low-income communities. 

About Transformative Climate Communities  

The California Strategic Growth Council’s (SGC) Transformative Climate Communities Program (TCC), administered in partnership with the California Department of Conservation, funds community-led development and infrastructure projects that achieve major environmental, health, and economic benefits in California’s most disadvantaged communities. For more information, visit https://sgc.ca.gov/grant-programs/tcc/. 

 

$20M for Climate Resiliency in Central Historic Barrios

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

San Diego Foundation Selected to Receive $20M U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Grant to Support Sustainability, Climate Resiliency in Central Historic Barrios

Grant to Fully Fund Transformative Climate Communities Local Health Initiative

SAN DIEGO (July 25, 2024)—San Diego Foundation (SDF) announced today that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has selected it to receive $19,999,317 for its joint initiative with the Environmental Health Coalition to help fund climate-resilient projects that will preserve, protect and strengthen San Diego’s central historic barrios.

“We are grateful to the EPA for recognizing how transformational this funding will be for San Diegans,” said Mark Stuart, President & CEO, SDF. “This federal grant is an endorsement of our coalition of partners and community-driven approach to fund much-needed projects that will improve the health and lives of residents in our central historic barrios and create a healthier, more vibrant and resilient community,”

The EPA grant will be combined with a previously announced $22 million grant received in December 2023 from the California Strategic Growth Council for the Transformative Climate Communities initiative, “Rooted in Comunidad, Cultivating Equity.”

“San Diego’s central historic barrio communities are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change like extreme heat or wildfires, because of existing toxic pollution, disinvestment and chronic disease like asthma,” said José Franco García, Executive Director, Environmental Health Coalition. “Residents that suffer these conditions have voiced the community’s need for investments in clean air, green spaces, healthy homes and pollution-free transit. Now, we can put their vision into action in order to help their families and neighbors thrive for generations to come.”

“Today’s announcement is welcome news for families in San Diego and across the region. This funding demonstrates our continued commitment to addressing long-standing environmental and climate justice challenges and investing in the health and wellbeing of our communities,” said Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52). “I’m proud to have voted for the Inflation Reduction Act to support projects just like this one and look forward to seeing the positive impacts to come.”

“Efforts to address climate change need to include all communities, especially neighborhoods that have historically been underfunded. The nearly $20 million in Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change grant money coming to San Diego will fund much-needed improvements to air quality, expand access to clean public transportation, and provide green space that will mitigate extreme heat and beautify neighborhoods. This is another great example of how the Biden-Harris administration’s Inflation Reduction Act is truly helping all Americans,” said Representative Scott Peters (CA-50).

Through the grants, the neighborhoods encompassing San Diego’s central historic barrios will experience unprecedented investment in green spaces, housing and transportation, community-led food production and distribution, and community centers, among other climate-resilient and community benefit projects. San Diego’s central historic barrios include the seven neighborhoods of Logan, Stockton, Grant Hill, Mt. Hope, Sherman, Southcrest and Shelltown. For a full description of projects, visit the Environmental Health Coalition’s project proposal website.

In 2022, Environmental Health Coalition and SDF, along with 10 partners, worked to ensure their project plan was grounded in the community and led by the community. During the application-building period for the California Strategic Growth Council, Environmental Health Coalition hosted a survey and two community workshops that included participation and feedback from 400-plus community members.

The EPA grant is one of seven awarded in California and one of 21 nationwide by the EPA during this inaugural round of funding. Selected applicants help disadvantaged communities tackle environmental and climate justice challenges through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience and build community capacity. Made possible by the federal Inflation Reduction Act, the Community Change Grants Program is the single-largest investment in environmental and climate justice in history. The funding announcement is the first tranche of nearly $2 billion from the program that was designed based on community input to award grants on a rolling basis. For more information on the Community Change Grants Program and a full listing of awards, visit EPA.gov.

About San Diego Foundation
San Diego Foundation inspires enduring philanthropy and enables community solutions to improve the quality of life in our region. Our strategic priorities include advancing racial and social justice, fostering equity of opportunity, building resilient communities, and delivering world-class philanthropy to realize our vision of just, equitable and resilient communities. The Environment Initiative preserves and protects our resources, builds a more sustainable path of economic growth and ensures a higher quality of life for those who call San Diego home. For nearly 50 years, SDF and its donors have granted $1.8 billion to support nonprofit organizations strengthening our community. Learn more at SDFoundation.org.

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Contact: Lorena Nava Ruggero, lruggero@sdfoundation.org, 619-814-1365

What Are Our Neighbors to the South Breathing?

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Students Find Dangerous Levels of CO2 and Toxic Air Pollution in Tijuana & Rosarito

Map of San Diego and Tijuana

Most San Diegans have ventured south of our border to Tijuana and Rosarito to visit family, enjoy authentic Mexican food, receive affordable healthcare, or simply dip our toes in the Pacific Ocean. Many Tijuana residents cross the border daily to work in San Diego. Have you ever wondered what our southern neighbors, and often co-workers are breathing, or what we are breathing when we visit? 15 students from Tijuana decided to find out.

Using data from air monitors, the students found dangerous levels of CO2, particulate matter, and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) in coastal and central Tijuana, as well as Rosarito. These air pollutants contribute to climate change and are harmful to human health, especially to vulnerable populations like people who already have long-term health issues, elders, and children.

Map of Tijuana and Rosarito

The majority of participants were university students from the Universidad Tecnológica de Tijuana. They were joined by several students from the youth group Colectivo Salud y Justicia Ambiental. Led by EHC’s Border Environmental Justice Campaign Director, Anibal Méndez, the students set up air monitors in three locations in Rosarito, six Tijuana beaches, and five locations in eastern Tijuana. The air monitors were set up to measure CO2, PM1, PM2.5, PM10 and VOC.

The air quality index states that a safe CO2 level is less than 1000 ppm. However, CO2 levels in Rosarito have reached an alarming 4549 ppm, in Playas de Tijuana 3596 ppm, and in Zona Este de Tijuana 3002 ppm. These elevated levels can cause serious health issues, including difficulty breathing, eye and nasal irritation, headaches, dizziness, and concentration problems. Below are some more of the student’s most significant findings.

  • In the coastal area, two monitors in Rosarito recorded between 12% and 15% of CO2 measurements exceeding 1000 ppm over the course of a month, concerning levels for outdoor areas.
  • In the East, a monitor near the Technological University of Tijuana (UTT) revealed that 20% of the CO2 measurements taken every ten minutes over a month exceeded safe levels.
  • Concerning air quality, measured by particulate matter (PM) and Volatile Organic compounds (VOC) levels, 17% of the readings in the coastal zone and 26% in the eastern zone were classified as polluted or very polluted.

“All of this is worrisome and highlights the urgent need for more studies to help find the sources of this pollution so we can create solutions that improve people’s health and quality of life,” said Méndez.

There might be a border between Tijuana and San Diego, but that doesn’t keep air pollution from crossing it. Just like San Diego and Tijuana communities are connected and intertwined so is the quality of the air we breathe.

This program was made possible thanks to grant support from the San Diego Foundation.