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City updates commission on $1.9M in brownfields grants, outreach and site assessments
Summary
Staff updated the Planning Commission on nearly $1.93 million in brownfields assessment and cleanup grants and described active site investigations, community‑wide assessment capacity and a planned Brownfield Advisory Committee and outreach program to nominate candidate sites.
City staff updated the Planning Commission on brownfields grants and ongoing environmental assessments, describing nearly $1.93 million in funding awarded since 2022 to conduct site assessments and remediation planning.
Economic development and planning staffer Jacob Collins summarized the city’s brownfields work: a June 2022 grant for the SciWest site along Main Street (a former landfill) that generated a preliminary endangerment assessment and follow‑up borings; a March 2024 award for additional work at the same site; a $150,000 grant to assess a property owned by the Carson Housing Authority at Carson and Figueroa where borings were conducted the prior week; and community‑wide assessment grants from DTSC and the EPA to evaluate multiple properties including several city‑owned parcels and a former parking lot near Dominic’s Pizza. Collins said DTSC approved an amendment for additional funding earlier in the year and the total grant portfolio now approaches $1.926 million.
Collins explained the purpose of brownfields grants: to lower the financial barrier for property owners and developers to perform environmental assessments and, where needed, pursue cleanup. He described ongoing field activities — soil borings and borings along property borders to assess the extent of landfill material at the SciWest site — and noted reports are expected soon for the Carson/Figueroa borings. Staff emphasized the program funds both public and private property assessments and urged property owners to participate via a site‑nomination form and QR code the city will publicize.
Staff said the city is partnering with California State University, Dominguez Hills to stand up a Brownfield Advisory Committee that will include health experts, university partners, residents and commissioners to guide outreach and site prioritization. Staff also described plans for a Carson brownfield inventory to present remediation statuses in a user‑friendly way. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about site ownership (housing authority, successor agency properties) and the frequency of grant rounds; staff responded that EPA grants are roughly biennial and DTSC’s rounds had shifted.
Commissioners raised concerns about public perception when broad environmental maps are displayed; staff said the advisory committee and outreach will focus on education to avoid unnecessary alarm and to explain which sites are actively remediated. No action was required; the item was presented as an informational update.
