City updates planning commission on EPA brownfields assessment; eight sites enter Phase I review
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Summary
South Gate staff told the planning commission the city’s US EPA 2023 community-wide brownfields assessment grant is active, with eight candidate sites undergoing Phase I assessments and up to six sites slated for Phase II field testing and cleanup planning in 2026.
City planning staff updated the South Gate Planning Commission on the status of a US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2023 community-wide brownfields assessment grant, reporting that work is underway on Phase I environmental site assessments for eight candidate properties and that the EPA granted a one-year extension through October 2026.
Sandra Varela, special project coordinator in the Community Development Department, said the brownfields process will follow four steps: (1) develop and screen a list of potential sites, (2) perform Phase I environmental site assessments (historical records and regulatory review), (3) conduct Phase II field testing where needed to determine the nature and extent of contamination, and (4) prepare cleanup and reuse planning for selected sites. The city’s environmental consultant on the grant is listed as SES Engineers.
Staff said eight sites are currently in Phase I assessment; staff will select up to six sites for Phase II testing and eventual redevelopment planning. Sites cited during the presentation included Parque Dos Rios; 9525 Salt Lake Avenue (and an adjacent water tower); 5250 Southern; 5310 Southern; the 3800 block of Firestone (a site supported by the Cesar Chavez Foundation for potential multifamily housing); 4909 Mason Street (within a future gateway area); and 2703 and 3626 Tweedy Boulevard (within the Tweedy target area).
Varela said the consultant will evaluate regulatory history and remediation complexity and that planning for cleanup and reuse will support applications for cleanup funds if contamination is found. The revised schedule presented shows Phase I work through December 2025, site selection for Phase II in December–January, and Phase II field work and cleanup-alternatives analysis from January through September 2026.
Members of the public asked several questions. One resident asked whether Parque Dos Rios testing had started and expressed a desire to see the levee-side area enhanced with accessible, elevated walkways; that speaker also suggested the city consider purchasing a nearby vacant lot at 5268 Wood Avenue for a pocket park. Theresa, representing the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (RMC), described a regional campaign to help Southeast Los Angeles communities shape Lower Los Angeles River projects and offered RMC technical assistance and letters of support for projects that align with community priorities and funding opportunities.
After the presentation and public comments, the commission voted unanimously to receive the update and place it on file. The roll call vote recorded Commissioners Castaneda, Osaeta (listed in the roll call as “Saeta” in the packet), Valenzuela, Vice Chairperson Prieto and Chairperson Ruiz as voting yes.
