Since the 1980s, Central Metal Inc. operated at 201 Santa Fe Ave. Walnut Park, CA 90255, emitting toxic pollution into the air, soil, and water into the surrounding communities of South Gate, Walnut Park, and Florence Firestone. Before Central Metal’s operations, parcels on the site were used as a train station, a foundry, and a tank manufacturer.
While it was operating, CMI dismantled and shredded large metal objects, including buses, house trailers, fire engines, and rail cars. The site also received electronic waste, such as computer monitors, desktop towers, batteries and other computer parts. Operations caused heavy metals to leech into nearby yards and groundwater throughout the community.
After 15 years of organizing and advocacy, community residents successfully demanded that the Los Angeles County Planning Commission deny CMI’s request for a Conditional Use Permit—the first denial of its kind in LA County history.
In the process to envision a community-centered redevelopment of the site, residents organized to help pass the LA County Green Zones Ordinance—a robust program aimed to improve land use compatibility and public health for communities disproportionately impacted by industrial pollution in incorporated LA County.
However, U-Haul quietly bought the site in January 2022 and entered into a California Land Reuse and Revitalization Act (CLRRA) agreement with DTSC, an agreement that would absolve them from any liability for nearby contamination in exchange for removing the contaminated soil from the site. Notably, the cleanup does not include groundwater pollution or the contamination of nearby residences.
The day before the Green Zones Ordinance took effect, U-Haul submitted their redevelopment application, sidestepping the health protections required by the Green Zones Ordinance and preventing any community-led development.
Now, with the development of this new polluting site, our focus has shifted to ensuring U-Haul is a good neighbor and making sure that the legacy heavy metal and VOC contamination in nearby residences and groundwater are adequately remediated.
Learn more about the toxic legacy of CMI/U-haul
Our latest fact sheet on CMI/U-haul & Jack Engle gives a breakdown of the type of pollution in this region and the related cumulative health impacts on Walnut Park and the surrounding communities.
Nuestra última hoja informativa sobre CMI/U-haul y Jack Engle ofrece un resumen del tipo de contaminación en esta región y los impactos acumulativos relacionados en la salud de Walnut Park y las comunidades circundantes.