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Residents, health advocates urge council to reject USDG fuels transfer station planned near homes and schools
Summary
Multiple public commenters at the National City council meeting urged officials to oppose a proposed USDG fuels transfer facility on West 18th Street, arguing the project would increase diesel truck traffic, concentrate diesel particulate matter near Westside neighborhoods and harm nearby schools and churches.
Several residents and public-health advocates urged the National City City Council to reject a proposed USDG fuels transfer project that would transfer railcar-delivered fuels to heavy trucks near West 18th Street.
Why it matters: Commenters said the facility would concentrate diesel particulate matter in Westside neighborhoods that already carry a high pollution burden, increase around-the-clock truck traffic on local streets, and place a sensitive land use mix ' including Kimball Elementary School and Saint Anthony Padua Church ' within a few hundred yards of possible emissions and accident risk.
What speakers said
Claire Gubner, associate director at Olive Gardens Learning Center and a representative of the National City Healthy Culturas Coalition, told the council the project ' proposed by a Texas-based company ' would 'concentrate diesel particulate matter emissions from truck trips in West Westside National City, where there is already a significant pollution burden.' She cited the city's climate action plan goals and said biofuels offered by the applicant do not eliminate local air-quality harms.
Cynthia Fuller Quinones, a longtime resident and public-health advocate, said the project would send toxic railcars into the area and increase 24/7 truck traffic that would carry hazardous cargo through neighborhoods. "The last thing that we need is more of this type of project in our neighborhoods," she said.
Council reaction and next steps
Speakers told the council the project is expected to be reviewed by the planning commission in early June. Council members did not vote during the meeting on the USDG proposal; multiple members asked staff for any updates and indicated they would consider public health and consistency with the city's land-use and climate goals when the application reaches a formal hearing.
Provenance (transcript spans)
Topic intro: s=1247.635 (Claire Gubner comment) Topic finish: s=1625.995 (Cynthia Quinones and other Westside speakers)
