The summary given below provides a description and documentation of a National City, California project that received a Level II Cooperative Agreement from EPA’s former Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) Program in 2009. These case studies serve as historic references, and conditions since the project was funded may have changed.

The resources developed for this project provide communities with information about ways that other communities have addressed environmental issues. Communities can use these project results to reduce environmental impacts, understand risks and become stewards of their own environment.

Summary

Environmental Health Coalition 
Clean Ports, Healthy Communities in San Diego
National City, California 
Region 9

The Environmental Health Coalition (EHC) is a recipient of a CARE Level II Cooperative Agreement. EHC is a nonprofit organization, whose purpose is to empower the community and various stakeholders, in order to achieve environmental and social justice. The Clean Ports, Healthy Communities in San Diego project, targets the Barrio Logan and Old Town National City areas located along San Diego Bay’s working waterfront. This area is comprised of primarily low-income and Latino residents. The project area is located along the San Diego waterfront, between downtown San Diego to the north, and the City of Chula Vista to the south. Of Barrio Logan’s 4,045 residents, 24% are people of color, and 9% live in poverty. Old Town’s population is also low income, and a predominately Latino community, with 85% of the residents being people of color, and 20% living in poverty. EHC will implement risk reduction activities in order to accomplish its plans by 2012. The first goal is to reduce exposure to diesel emissions in the project area by 15%. The second goal is to reduce exposure to air pollution from industries in residential sections of the project area by 20%. In addition, EHC’s program will monitor and evaluate the implementation of the community and port plans.     

Established CARE Partners: Kimball Elementary, San Diego Unified School District, San Diego Community College, San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council, International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), American Lung Association, Old Town Neighborhood Council, Working Waterfront Group, San Diego Tenants Association, National City Mayor, Old Town Smart Growth Coalition, Champion Real Estate, SoCall Chopper Shop, General Dynamics, Continental Maritime, Center City Development Corporation, United States Navy, Southeastern San Diego Planning Committee, San Diego Association of Governments, Chesapeake Fish Company, Dixieline Lumber and Home Services, Dole Fresh Fruit, Goodrich Corporation, and Dynegy, Inc.