NATIONAL CITY, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — The National City Planning commission voted a majority four-to-one to deny approval of a controversial fuel transfer station.
Before Monday’s meeting began, environmental groups and local residents rallied calling on commissioners to not support the project.
“The EHC has been fighting the bad air pollution in National City for decades. That’s why they were formed,” said Chris Roberts, volunteer at San Diego 350.
Groups like the Environmental Health Coalition, San Diego 350 and more stood alongside National City neighbors fighting against the proposed fuel transfer station along the BNSF railway tracks near Cleveland Avenue and West 19th Street.
The facility proposed would involve the delivery and distribution of biofuels to the San Diego region.
“The problem is the train bringing in the cargo is using diesel itself and then the trucks coming in to distribute the diesel, right in the middle of the neighborhood,” said Maggie Morales, volunteer with Environmental Health Coalition.
The National School District Board also sent a letter to the city, strongly opposing the construction of the site that sits less than half a mile from Kimball Elementary.
Meantime developer USD Clean Fuels is claiming this project will make the community cleaner and safer.
“The project immediately provides clean fuels for all cars, trucks, equipment, on road and off road that are used in this area. It delivers them in a significantly improved manner reducing overall per gallon delivered emissions from how those fuels are arriving today,” explained Bill Frerking, Chief Administrative Officer for USD Group.
The developer also says California’s Environmental Quality Act review found no significant concerns.
Members of the Laborers San Diego Local 89 voiced their support as the project promises to bring jobs and also pledges to pay the city $200,000 a year as long as the station exists.
Although the planning commission voted to deny the project, it can still be appealed to the city council and also the California Coastal Commission, which would have the final say.
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