May—June 2017 Pacific Southwest Newsletter
Cleaning Up Contamination and Revitalizing Local Economies
EPA awarded the City of Pittsburg, Calif., a $300,000 grant as part of the $56.8 million awarded nationally to 172 recipients to assess and clean up historically contaminated properties, also known as brownfields, to help local governments redevelop vacant and unused properties, transforming communities and local economies. Pittsburg will use the funds to focus revitalization efforts on downtown and industrial waterfront properties.
- East Bay Times: Grant to Help Spark Waterfront Commerce Plan
- Brownfields Grant Event in Pittsburg (video)
- Brownfield Grant Recipient Success Stories
A Job Training Success Story
Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training grants support nonprofit and other organizations in recruiting, training and placing predominantly low-income, minority and unemployed people living in areas affected by solid and hazardous waste. Residents learn the skills needed to secure full-time, sustainable employment in the environmental field, including assessment and cleanup. These green jobs reduce environmental contamination and build more sustainable futures for communities.
- The EPA Blog: Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Success Stories: Richmond, California (link no longer available)
- Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Grants
Students Honored with President’s Environmental Youth Award
Students from Fremont and Watsonville, Calif., are among the nationwide recipients of the President’s Environmental Youth Award, which is presented each year to K-12 students who demonstrate the initiative, creativity, and problem-solving skills needed to address environmental problems and find sustainable solutions. The California students worked on water conservation and protection of an endangered shorebird.
- Santa Cruz Sentinel: Mount Madonna Students Win President’s Environmental Award for Snowy Plover Project
- India Times: Indian Americans win EPA’s PEYA Award
- President’s Environmental Youth Award Winners
Settlement Resolves Oil Spill Violations
In 2016, a tanker truck overturned in Southern California, discharging about 88 barrels of diesel fuel that migrated through storm drains into the San Diego River and adjoining shorelines. The river flows into Mission Bay and the Pacific Ocean. EPA was one of several agencies involved in the cleanup, which was completed in September 2016.
- KGTV San Diego: Carlsbad Company to Pay Penalty over Oil Spill
