[CPEO-BIF] Brownfields to School Sites – How Can the State

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

The following is background information from a 1/14/00
California Senate Select Committee On Evironmental Justice Hearing

Brownfields to School Sites - How Can the State Facilitate Cleanup to Build
Essential Schools?

Hearing Agenda:
http://www.senate.ca.gov/ftp/SEN/COMMITTEE/SELECT/ENVIR_JUS/_home/AGENDA_JAN
_14_2000.HTM
(Copy and past the FULL URL to your browser if it is broken)


For the complete Background info go to:
http://www.senate.ca.gov/ftp/SEN/COMMITTEE/SELECT/ENVIR_JUS/_home/BACKGROUND
_01_14_200HEARING.HTM
(Copy and past the FULL URL to your browser if it is broken)

Background Paper for January 14, 2000 Hearing

Purpose

Environmental injustice occurs where environmental degradations are
overconcentrated in low-income and minority communities. Because a
disproportionate share of "brownfields" -- vacant or underutilized sites
that may be contaminated from prior uses -- are located in
low-income and minority communities, cleaning up these sites and promoting
their reuse helps alleviate the historical injustices affecting these
neighborhoods. 

At the same time, California's school-aged population continues to surge.
School districts around the state face a dire need to construct new
facilities to meet the demand for classroom space. However, in many
communities, especially older urban areas comprised of low-income and
minority neighborhoods, there are very few parcels of available land large
enough to accommodate a school. As a result, a district must choose between
demolishing existing homes and businesses or looking to brownfields. 

Cleaning up brownfields for use as schools can bring a double benefit by
both removing an eyesore and potential source of exposure to the community
and providing the needed classroom space. The purpose of this hearing is to
solicit and hear discussion of various proposals that would allow the
state, where necessary, to facilitate the cleanup of brownfields to create
safe schools.

continued...


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