[CPEO-BIF] Neighbors of Heavy Industry Supervisors to tackle setting policy fo

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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000/10/03
/MN62340.DTL


Neighbors of Heavy Industry Supervisors to tackle setting policy for
environmental justice

Jason B. Johnson, Chronicle Staff Writer 
                                                 
Tuesday, October 3, 2000                   

A two-year study of life near Contra Costa's industrial plants has found
what most people living in the smokestacks' shadows already knew: they are
predominantly poor, minority, in poorer health and face greater exposure to
pollutants. 

To counteract years of policies that left parts of the county with high
concentrations of heavy industry, the county's Hazardous Materials
Commission suggested in early draft reports that buffer zones be created
between industry and homes spoke in early draft reports of creating buffer
zones between industry and homesin areas like North Richmond and Pittsburg. 

But the group's latest draft avoids specifics and simply urges the Board of
Supervisors to adopt an environmental justice policy, angering critics who
say the report is being watered down and lets industry off the hook. 

A final draft should be submitted to the board within the next few weeks. 

``I think it needs to be a more aggressive policy,'' said West Contra Costa
Supervisor John Gioia. 

Gioia wants neighborhoods already burdened with heavy industry to have a
greater say in the county's planning process. 

Supporters of a strong environmental justice policy believe one could have
helped residents of the Richmond Townhouse Apartments on Pullman Avenue.
The 200-unit, low-income complex was built on lead-tainted soil from a
turn-of-the-century railway switching yard. The toxic wastes were
discovered almost by accident and a cleanup has been ordered. 

continued...


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000/10/03
/MN62340.DTL

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