Congresswoman Barragán led EPA’s top person, Administrator Michael Regan, on a tour of her district to show him some of the neighborhoods severely affected by pollution, and facilitate discussions between Administrator Regan and Los Angeles County residents who live near these polluted sites.
The Congresswoman’s 44th District comprises Carson, Compton, East Compton, East Rancho Dominguez, Lynwood, North Long Beach, San Pedro, South Gate, Watts, Walnut Park, West Rancho Dominguez, Willowbrook, and Wilmington. The district is the setting for the New York Times opinion video Living Near Oil Production Is Deadly. Why Don’t California Lawmakers Care? by Josiah Edwards, who is a climate organizer in Carson.
At the Wilmington Boys & Girls Club, Congresswoman Barragán and Administrator Regan heard from local advocates, made brief remarks, took questions from journalists, and listened to local environmental justice advocates. They looked at oil drilling sites right next to homes and the Boys & Girls Club and went on a short drive to the site of a working oil pump immediately between two homes and right in the middle of a residential neighborhood.
Congresswoman Nanette Barragán is a strong advocate for removing highly dangerous hydrogen fluoride from the two South Bay refineries that use it. She and Congressman Ted Lieu wrote a letter to the AQMD expressing their support of a ban, see:
https://traa.website/letters-of-support-from-elected-officials/
Congresswoman Barragan requested materials from TRAA for her to personally deliver to Administrator Regan.
TRAA President Steven Goldsmith happily supplied a binder with documents highlighting:
- the exceptional danger of HF, especially to communities already experiencing a high environmental justice burden,
- the national security threat to the employees of the ports and aerospace industry,
- the array of safer technology alternatives, and
- the tools that EPA might employ to require an upgrade to the refineries resulting in the removal of HF with a short timeline.
TRAA thanks Congresswoman Barragán and all the dedicated advocates for environmental justice at the Wilmington event.
Read the Daily Breeze article on the event by clicking:
EPA chief tours Wilmington area with Rep. Barragan
Read the Random Lengths News article on the event by clicking:
Rep. Barragán, EPA Administrator Regan Tour Harbor
Torrance Refinery Action Alliance 