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Residents and CREW press city for permitting alerts and parcel acquisition at ACW Superfund area
Summary
Members of CREW urged the council to add permitting safety alerts and to acquire contaminated parcels linked to the American Creosote Works Superfund site so cleanup can proceed and residents are warned when permits would disturb contaminated soil.
Residents and advocates with CREW (Creosote Remediation and Environmental Workforce) used the Leroy Boyd Forum to urge immediate city action on permitting and acquisition related to the American Creosote Works (ACW) Superfund site. Speakers said construction and landscaping permits are still issued without flags or warnings in contaminated zones, creating a public‑health risk when workers or homeowners unknowingly disturb toxic soils.
Speakers cited the 2024 EPA inspector general's report and the EPA Superfund Mapping Tool as evidence the permitting system lacks an automated alert for parcels in or near the ACW boundary and urged the city to add an indicator in its permitting software that would notify applicants and staff when a parcel is within a contamination buffer. CREW representatives also urged the city to pursue bona fide prospective purchaser status or to acquire remaining contaminated lots to reduce private barriers to cleanup.
The mayor and staff responded that they would provide a permitting office response promptly and that administration staff were engaged with the EPA and federal partners. The mayor said he had raised the site at the White House and that the administration would provide a written response to the CREW group's emails by the next day.
Next steps: staff committed to follow up with CREW on permitting alerts and to provide written updates on coordination with EPA and any steps the city can take to facilitate remediation.
