Environmental Health Coalition Volume 28, Issue 3 Winter 2010

South Bay Power Plant: The End is Near

CLICK HERE TO NAVIGATE End of the South Bay Power Plant on the horizon...... Page 4 Extreme Home Retrofits coming to ...... Page 6 National City tackles Environmental Justice in General Plan ...... Page 7 School children exposed to deadly diesel exhaust...... Page 8 EHC congratulates Port Commissioner Steve Padilla...... Page 10 EHC welcomes new board members, says thanks to outgoing members...... Page 11 Environmental Health Coalition Fighting Toxic Pollution Organizing for Justice Protecting Public Health Promoting Environmental Justice EHC 1980-2010 Environmental Health Coalition is dedicated to environmental and social justice. We believe that justice is achieved when empowered communities act together to make Toxinformer Staff social change. We organize and advocate to protect public health and the environment

Editorial Team Jason Baker threatened by toxic pollution. EHC supports efforts that create a just society which foster Sonya Holmquist a healthy and sustainable quality of life. Diane Takvorian Translators Lilia Escalante Judith Minarick

EHC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President MARGARET GODSHALK, National School District Vice President CLARICE GAYLORD, PH.D. t H E B o r de r The Clean Bay The Toxic Free The Campaign U.S. EPA, Retired Secretary / Treasurer DAN MCKIRNAN, PH.D., Environmental Campaign works Neighborhoods to Eliminat e Community Activist beatriz barraza Colaborativo SABER Justice Campaign to cleanup, restore C a m p a i g n Childhood Lead david didonato Community Leader works to reduce toxic and protect San o r g a n i z e s i n Poisoning works lorena gonzalez San Diego - Imperial Counties Labor Council pollution caused Diego Bay and bay communities of to eliminate sources RUTH HEIFETZ, MD, MPH UCSD School of Medicine by maquiladora tidelands fr om color to advocate of lead exposure to carmen gutierrez hernandez Community Leader i n d u s t r i e s i n i n d u s t r i a l a n d for the prevention protect children’s SHARON KALEMKIARIAN Esq. Ashworth, Blanchet, Christensen and Kalemkiarian Tijuana and to Naval polluters of toxic pollution health. enrique medina Alliance Consulting International promote fair trade and development from industrial and jose medina Community Leader yeni linqui EHC Staff Representative and globalization activities. mobile sources. for justice. Affiliations are listed for identification purposes only

EHC Staff Diane Takvorian Executive Director Sonya Holmquist Associate Director Laura Hunter Associate Program Director Leticia Ayala Associate Program Director Lilia Escalante Fiscal Manager STAY INFORMED! sarah vega Development Associate/Executive Assistant Jason baker Communications Director Become a member of ehc today! Joy Williams Research Director david urzua Database/IT Manager Yes, I want to become a member of EHC. I am enclosing my tax- Jorge glackman Leadership Development Coordinator deductible membership contribution of: Climate Justice Campaign Nicole capretz Director $25 $100 Yeni Linqui Organizer II Toxic Free Neighborhoods Campaign $50 $250 georgette gómez Director jane lilly Policy Advocate $75 $_____ Other Maria Moya Organizer II Monserrat hernández Organizer Name______Campaign to Eliminate Childhood Lead Poisoning Luz Palomino Organizer II Street______Francisca JimÉnez Campaign Associate City______State______Zip______silvia león Campaign Associate Border Environmental Justice Campaign Phone: (W)______(H)______Amelia Simpson Director Magdalena Cerda Organizer II Email: ______@______Check enclosed Please charge my Visa Mastercard ENVIROnMENTAL HEALTH COALITION Card No.______Exp.Date______401 Mile of Cars Way, Suite 310, National City, CA 91950 Tel. (619) 474-0220 Fax (619) 474-1210 Signature______EHC encourages the reuse of ToxinfoRmer articles. Please acknowledge EHC as the source and send us a Mail to: EHC, 401 Mile of Cars Way, Suite 310, National City, CA 91950 copy of all reprints. Printed on recycled paper with soy-based ink www.environmentalhealth.org Environmental Health Coalition 3 nvironmental health describes the interrelationships between the environment and human health, particularly how pollutants in the environment adversely affect our health. EThese interrelationships may teeism. Asthma deaths and the num- ma. Rates are highest among adults be complex, but for large numbers ber of Americans diagnosed with over age 65, and Blacks have the of people of color and people from asthma continue to increase each highest asthma death rate among low-income households, the prob- year. race/ethnic groups. lems are obvious, as are many of the solutions. The 2008 San Diego County Air Toxics: Cutting Life Short Asthma Report Card issued by the For Maria Martinez and her San Diego Regional Asthma Coali- Asthma is just one of the chron- children, this means getting pollut- tion shows that 9,186 people in San ic illnesses linked to air toxics. ing industries out of Barrio Logan; Diego County visited the emergen- Particulate matter, including diesel for Diana Vera it means tearing cy room for asthma illness in Fiscal particulate, slows children’s lung down an outdated power plant in Year 2005-2006. Residents of the growth rate, makes asthma worse Chula Vista that has polluted her Central and South Regions of San and causes cancer, heart disease, community for 50 years; and higher death rates. Pre- for residents of Colonia mature deaths linked to par- Chilpancingo in Tijuana, ticulate matter are now at it means rerouting die- In this issue, you will read about levels comparable to deaths sel trucks that pollute EHC’s work to improve the environmental from traffic accidents and the community and the health of our communities, particularly by second-hand smoke. One of environment of nearby reducing exposure to air toxics. the most dangerous pollut- schools. ants, fine particulate matter – for example from diesel Large numbers of exhaust - not only bypasses people of color and people from Diego County were more likely to the body’s defense mechanisms and low income households live in these visit an emergency room for asth- becomes embedded in the deep- areas, and are exposed to higher ma, and Blacks and Hispanics were est recesses of the lung, but also than average levels of air pollution, more likely to visit for treatment. can disrupt cellular processes. Re- both indoors and outside. Studies in During the year, 20.7% of children search from the Air Re- hundreds of cities in the U.S. and with asthma visit an emergency sources Board shows that each year, around the world show a strong link room or urgent care for asthma, and air pollution leads to 8,800 prema- between elevated particulate levels young children were more likely to ture deaths, 7,700 hospitalizations, and premature deaths, hospital ad- visit than older children and adults. 210,000 respiratory illnesses, 1.4 missions, emergency room visits, million lost work days and 4.7 mil- and asthma attacks. San Diego County had 2,087 lion school absences in the state. asthma hospitalizations in 2005. Asthma: Chronic and Deadly The County’s hospitalization rate EHC’s work on land use (cre- is 70 per 100,000 residents. Cen- ating buffers and providing more Asthma is a serious problem in tral and East Region residents have open space), the reduction of die- our society. It kills about 4,000 peo- higher hospitalization rates for asth- sel particulate matter from trucks ple a year and was estimated in 2007 ma, with Blacks more likely to be and ships, and removal of polluting to cost $19.7 billion in medical care hospitalized. Young children, wom- power plants are all measures that and lost time from school and work. en, and the elderly also have higher when successfully implemented will Asthma is the leading chronic child- hospitalization rates for asthma. greatly reduce exposure to air pol- hood illness in the United States and lutants linked to asthma and other the leading cause of school absen- Central Region residents have diseases linked to air toxics. the highest rates of death from asth- 4 Toxinformer Winter 2010

The South Bay Power Plant impacts public health, the environment and contributes to unhealthy air quality that plagues our communities. End of the South Bay Power Plant on the horizon ovember 10, 2009 should would no longer be able to operate. A available. have been a landmark day hearing will be scheduled to review for South Bay communi- the issue in March 2010. Cooling that Kills tiesN and San Diego Bay. It should have been a day of celebration and “Once again, the Board members In September, the San Diego Re- speeches ushering in a new era of stated clearly that they want to hear gional Water Quality Control Board renewal for the Chula Vista Bay- the issues and evidence about the responded to the demands of EHC front. The South Bay Power Plant power plant. They unanimously vot- and dozens of elected officials, com- operator, the regional water quality ed to set a hearing for March which munity residents, and activists calling authority and the state energy agen- is what we asked for,” said Laura for an end to the South Bay Power cies all promised that by Novem- Hunter, Associate Program Director Plant's assault on the environment. ber 10, 2009, the polluting clunker for Environmental Health Coalition. Following lengthy public testimony would have shut down its operation. in opposition to the renewal of the “Get ready for 2010-- the year plant's water pollution discharge per- Sadly, it did not happen. But the power plant will finally cease mit, the board directed its staff to set hope for the end of the South Bay operations!” a date for a public hearing to decide Power Plant is on the horizon. whether or not to renew the plant's Environmental Health Coalition pollution permit On December 16, members of and our allies will be asking the Re- the San Diego Regional Water Qual- gional Board to rescind the extended The board's own study shows ity Control Board said they would permit early in 2010 before the plant that the plant's use of San Diego Bay consider revoking the South Bay damages marine life for another year. water for “once-through” cooling Power Plant's water discharge permit. No date for the March hearing has kills billions of fish larvae and mil- Without this permit, the power plant been set, but EHC will update you lions of sea creatures when operating with all the information as it becomes at full capacity. The hot water dis- Environmental Health Coalition 5 charge contaminated with pollution during 50 years of operations has fundamentally altered the marine ecosystem in the South Bay. The power plant is one of 19 in California that uses a “once-through cooling system” which is widely known to be environmentally destructive.

“This facility is an anachro- nism. It shouldn't be there,” Richard Wright, chairman of the water board, told the San Diego Union-Tribune.

The End of ‘Must-Run’

Just weeks later, the California Independent System Operator told Dynegy, which leases and operates the power plant, that “must run” status on two of its four generators Courtesy Steve Breen, San Diego Union-Tribune would not be renewed and that the sioned if certain new energy projects This community has been patient. two generators would be decom- were constructed. Since then, an It's time for the ISO to pay attention missioned at the end of 2009. The Otay Mesa plant, which came online to the impacts their decisions have.” Union-Tribune reported that ISO of- in October 2009, and more peaker ficials also have said that reliance on plants have been built meeting the The antiquated South Bay Power the remaining generators could come local need. The requirements have plant impacts our health, the envi- to an end in March or April, as more been met, but the plant has still not ronment and the local economy. Its power sources come online. been decommissioned, Hunter said. pollution contributes to unhealthy air quality that plagues our communities. In January 2008, the ISO said “We need the ISO to release the Its inefficient technology will cost the power plant could be decommis- whole plant,” Hunter said. “It's time. San Diego rate payers $50 million this year - for power that doesn't always stay in the region. Until this EHC and the South Bay communities would like to thank plant’s “must-run” status is lifted, the following elected officials for their support. or the water permit is terminated, environmental justice for South Congressman Bob Filner Bay communities and long-awaited State Senator Denise Moreno Ducheny plans for parks, hotels and economic Assemblymember Marty Block development on the bay front remain Assemblymember beyond reach. County Supervisor Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox “We know there are better alter- Chula Vista Deputy Mayor Rudy Ramirez natives,” said Chula Vista Council- Chula Vista Councilmember Pamela Bensoussan member Pamela Bensoussan. “This is Chula Vista Councilmember Steve Castaneda a perfect time to focus our attention Chula Vista Councilmember Mitch Thompson on new strategies to meet our energy City of San Diego Council President Ben Hueso needs in a way that is local, more reli- Imperial Beach Councilmember Patricia McCoy able, more sustainable, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Imperial Beach Councilmember Jim King

Coronado Councilmember Barbara Denny 6 Toxinformer Winter 2010 Extreme Home Retrofits coming to San Diego nvironmental Health Coali- tion is excited to announce that after months of orga- nizingE and advocacy, the San Diego City Council in October passed a pioneering suite of programs under the federal energy stimulus package that offer a mix of benefits for the City and broader community. The action was supported by the Green Energy and Good Jobs Alliance.

San Diego is poised to become one of the first large cities in the country to retrofit homes citywide, with a special emphasis on retrofitting homes and providing job training in low income communities. These retrofits will save residents money, add value San Diego City Councilmember Donna Frye, left, joined Diane Takvorian and Nicole Capretz of EHC for a press conference with the Green Energy/Good Jobs Alliance. to the home, improve the health of residents, reduce our carbon footprint and create sustainable, Climate Justice Campaign said, family-supporting green-collar jobs. “We are proud of the Mayor and The Green Energy / Good Council for taking a strong stand to Jobs Alliance is a coalition of The Council adopted the full list combat climate change and jump- community, environmental and labor of recommendations submitted by the start a new green economy with organizations working to create a Energy Efficiency and Conservation real, sustainable jobs. While we are thriving local green economy that Block Grant Committee. Chaired entering into uncharted territory, reduces greenhouse emissions, by Councilmember Frye and Mayor we are also setting the groundwork improves air quality, protects public Sanders, it was a committee created for a new chapter in San Diego’s health, provides opportunities and as a result of advocacy by the economic and environmental benefits to all neighborhoods, and Alliance. history.” creates family-supporting career- track jobs. The Council also wisely saw The council action includes: the need for continued oversight $250,000 to develop an updated Alliance members and and vigilance over the design and Climate Action Plan organizations supporting the council implementation of these cutting- $3 million for a low-income action include: Environmental edge programs. The Mayor home retrofit program with required Health Coalition, Coalition of has promised extensive public audits, education and upgrades Neighborhood Councils, AIA involvement and input, and the $1.5 million for a home COTE-San Diego Chapter, Sierra Council promises to take a hands-on retrofit program with no income Club-San Diego Chapter, San leadership role as needed. Everyone requirements Diego CoastKeeper, San Diego appears committed to making these $2.5 million for a revolving loan Imperial-Counties Labor Council, programs successful. fund for energy projects GRID Alternatives, and City $2 million to retrofit City street Heights Community Development Nicole Capretz, Director of lights; and Corporation. Environmental Health Coalition’s $2 million for energy efficiency upgrades to Balboa Park buildings Environmental Health Coalition 7 EHC awarded U.S. EPA CARE grant he U.S. Environmental Pro- assistance, EPA helps communities October in New York City. Mathy tection Agency has awarded get on the path to a renewed envi- Stanislaus, EPA Assistant Adminis- TEnvironmental Heath Coali- ronment. trator for Solid Waste and Emergency tion a $300,000 grant to support our Response, gave the keynote address Clean Ports, Healthy Communities EHC will use the funds to work and said: “Environmental sustain- project in San Diego over the next for reduction in diesel emissions and ability is important to our health, to two years. exposure to pollutants caused by in- our economy, to overall quality of life compatible land use. A primary goal and well-being. EPA’s Community Action for is the adoption of community plans in a Renewed Environment (CARE) Barrio Logan and Old Town National The CARE program ensures is a competitive grant program that City that recognize the significant that all of our partners – govern- offers an innovative way for a com- hazards associated with homes and ment, local organizations, business, munity to organize and take action schools in close proximity to pollu- academia, and especially community to reduce toxic pollution in its local tion sources. members – have key roles in mak- environment. CARE grantees work ing our communities healthier. The to implement solutions to reduce EHC Executive Director Diane CARE program gives us a way to releases of toxic pollutants and Takvorian and Campaign Direc- work together to achieve healthy minimize people’s exposure to them. tor Georgette Gomez attended the sustainable communities.” By providing financial and technical 2009 CARE National Conference in National City tackles Environmental Justice in General Plan ational City on October 20 became the first city in NCalifornia to include Envi- ronmental Justice as a full element of its general plan.

“We're proud to be setting the pace for other communities throughout the state to look at Environmental Justice issues and use Environmental Justice as a framework to address quality of life issues in our communities,” said National City Vice Mayor Alejandra Sotelo-Solis.

This decision is a victory for Environmental Health Coalition and community residents who forward," said Councilmember healthy and brighter future for all of have worked tirelessly to reduce Rosalie Zarate. its residents. the health impacts in Old Town National City. "This is an important The City Council voted to A general plan guides land use next step in continuing the work we include a Health and Environmental and development decisions for the have done to address health hazards Justice Element to better address physical development of a city. in National City. We will strengthen the way land use practices affect National City's general plan was last the health focus of our planning community health. The amendment updated in 1996. efforts as the city continues to move means that the city is committed to a 8 Toxinformer Winter 2010

More than 1.4 million trucks cross the US/Mexico border each year. Truck traffic routinely fills Colonia Chilpancingo’s small streets. School children exposed to deadly diesel exhaust hildren attending schools in a side street in Colonia Chilpancingo. The Colonia Chilpancingo the Tijuana community of The sampling is the first step in de- neighborhood is adjacent to the CColonia Chilpancingo are veloping a community-driven action largest industrial park in Tijuana, exposed to high levels of diesel par- plan to reduce truck traffic adjacent less than one mile from the Otay ticulate matter, according to research to the schools. Mesa Port of Entry. More than 1.4 conducted by Environmental Health million trucks cross the border each Coalition and Chilpancingo resi- EHC staff and 27 members of year, representing two-thirds of dents. Exposure to diesel exhaust is the Colectivo and its Youth Group all commercial truck traffic cross- associated with serious health haz- conducted the air sampling in front ing the entire California-Mexico ards including cancer, asthma and of the schools using hand-held P-Trak border. Trucks routinely use the heart problems. Ultrafine Particle Counters. Sampling Chilpancingo neighborhood's small team members also counted heavy- residential streets to cross Tijuana. From December 2008 through duty diesel trucks, cars, vans, taxis, April 2009, EHC and its Tijuana af- city buses, pickup trucks, and water Fifty percent of the trucks count- filiate, the Colectivo Chilpancingo delivery trucks during each sampling ed during sampling bore both U.S. Pro Justicia Ambiental, conducted air session. and Mexican license plates, indi- quality sampling and traffic counting cating they are licensed to operate at three school sites, Nicolás Bravo/ Analysis of the data showed on both sides of the border and are Emiliano Zapata elementary school that traffic volumes and ultrafine likely servicing the maquiladora and the Ana María Berlanga Kinder- particulate levels are higher at all industry. Shortcuts past the Kinder- garten in Colonia Chilpancingo, and three school sites than at the control garten, elementary and secondary the State Secondary School No. 89 site. The highest level measured was schools save drivers time and fuel, in Colonia Campestre Murúa, and at 370,666 particles per cubic centimeter but there are existing main arteries a control site in a residential area on at the Kindergarten. surrounding the neighborhood to the Environmental Health Coalition 9

Summary of Particle Counts

School Site AM or PM Average Particle Count Level at Control Site

Kindergarten AM 45,815 25,670 Kindergarten PM 48,516 19,891 Elementary AM 13,208 7,838 Elementary PM 10,284 7,334 Secondary AM 23,150 7,890 Secondary PM 39,639 19,877 north, south, east and west, which are live or work along the same blocks. appropriate routes for maquiladora Border Briefs trucks to take. Add your name to the petition! • Coalition for Justice in the Reducing truck emissions at the Join our call to reroute trucks Maquiladoras Board President target sites will improve the health driving past the schools in the Colo- and BEJC Director Amelia of over 2,000 school children at the nia Chilpancingo/Murúa neighbor- Simpson welcomed Ernesto Lizcano, a worker from TRW three schools, as well as their family hood. Log on to www.environmen- in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, to the members who deliver and pick up talhealth.org and take action now! Colectivo Chilpancingo Pro students, school staff, and those who Justicia Ambiental office on October 10, 2009. He spoke about the international struggle to defend the rights of 600 workers at the U.S.-owned company’s auto safety belt maquiladora factory in Mexico.

• Amelia Simpson and Magdalena Cerda participated in the annual coordinator’s meeting of the bi- national environmental agency Border 2012 on October 28. They addressed the importance of community participation in one of the successful support projects of Border 2012 - the Metales y Derivados Tijuana toxic site cleanup - and offered recommendations for the future direction of the program.

• In August and October, Youth Group Coordinator Aníbal Méndez and members of the Youth Group joined other grantees of the San Diego Foundation for Change in workshops to Colectivo Chilpancingo pro Justicia Ambiental members Guadalupe Luján, left, and Ana exchange information and build Langarica monitor truck emissions near their homes in Colonia Chilpancigo, Tijuana. cross border solidarity. 10 Toxinformer Winter 2010 EHC congratulates Port Commissioner Steve Padilla

The Chula Vista City Council on September 29 appointed former Chula Vista mayor Steve Padilla to the San Diego Board of Port Commissioners. Former Commissioner Mike Najera resigned on May 15, and Padilla will serve the remainder of the term. Environmental Health Coalition supported Padilla's appointment and congratulates him on the victory.

Padilla’s priorities include getting the South Bay Power Plant decommissioned and getting power lines near the bayfront removed. He also emphasized his commitment to completing the environmental review process and reinvigorating the Chula Vista Bayfront plan. EHC looks forward to working with Commissioner Padilla to create a healthier community for all South Port Commissioner Steve Padilla talks with Maria Moya, left, and Luz Palomino of EHC. Bay residents.

Is Your Home Safe for Your Children? Has Your Child Been Tested for Lead?

The City of San Diego Lead Safe San Diego Program Offers Free Help

Who qualifies? Low-income families residing within the City of San Diego • Renters and owner-occupied homes • Homes built before 1979 • Homes with deteriorated paint

Free Services Housing lead inspection/assessment • Repairs of identified lead hazards • Blood lead level testing for children • Lead dust cleaning • One-on-one in-home lead training

About the Program The Lead Safe San Diego Program is funded by grants from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Lead poisoning is the number one environmental health threat to children under the age of six. Lead poisoning causes irreversible health problems like brain damage, reduced IQ, behavioral problems, and learning disabilities.

For more information contact EHC Organizer Luz Palomino at (619) 474-0220, ext. 141 or email [email protected] Environmental Health Coalition 11

EHC welcomes new board members, says thanks to outgoing members

(Back row, left to right) Dan McKirnan,Secretary/Treasurer; Clarice Gaylord,Vice-President; Sharon Kalemkiarian, Ruth Heifetz, David DiDonato, Margaret Godshalk, President; José Medina, Tony Pettina, Treasurer Emeritus; Maria Martinez, Carmen Gutierrez Hernandez, Enrique Medina

(Seated, left to right) Yeni Linqui, EHC Staff Representative; Jay Powell, Beatriz Barraza, President Emerita; Jean Costa, Lorena Gonzales (not pictured)

EHC thanks outgoing board members Jay Powell and Jean Costa and welcomes new board members David DiDonato, José Medina, Enrique Medina, Maria Martinez, Carmen Gutierrez Hernandez, and Yeni Linqui.

EHC also welcomes Margaret Godshalk (right) as President of our Board of Directors. We offer our most sincere thanks to outgoing president Beatriz Barraza, (left) who now serves as President Emerita. EHC Donor Appreciation Luncheon On October 29, EHC held our first Donor Appreciation Luncheon to say thank you to our top contributors and announce plans for our 30th Anniversary Celebration. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make the event a success! Almuerzo en agradecimiento a los donantes de EHC El 29 de octubre, EHC llevó acabo el primer almuerzo en agradecimiento a los donantes para darles las gracias a nuestros contribuidores de alto nivel y anunciar los planes para la celebración de nuestro trigésimo aniversario. ¡Gracias a todos los participantes y por lograr que este evento haya sido un éxito!

San Diego City Councilmember Donna Frye and EHC Executive Director Diane Tom and Beverly Casey Takvorian. Donna Frye miembro del concilio de la cuidad de San Diego y Diane Takvorian, directora ejecutiva de EHC

Betsy Gill Lee and June Welsh EHC Open House On November 5th, EHC opened our office for an Open House to share food, fun, and information about our programs with potential EHC members. Thank you to everyone who attended. We can’t wait to see you again! Casa Abierta de EHC El 5 de noviembre, EHC abrió sus puertas para compartir comida, diversión e información sobre nuestros programas con miembros potenciales de EHC. Gracias a todos los que asistieron. ¡Esperamos verlos pronto!

EHC Promotora Leonor García

One of the many young community members in attendance helps EHC Organizer Yeni Linqui with a raffle prize drawing. Uno de los muchos jóvenes de la comunidad que asistieron, le ayuda con la rifa a Yeni EHC Promotora Martha Cortéz Linqui, organizadora de EHC