Timeline
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What is Being Proposed?
The Energy and Environment Committee is recommending that the Los Angeles City Council authorize the Bureau of Sanitation to apply for a federal EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant. This grant would fund the remediation and cleanup of contaminated brownfield sites located in Council District Eight. If the grant is awarded, the Bureau of Sanitation must also report back to the Council on the steps needed to accept and use the EPA funds.
Why This Matters
Brownfields are abandoned or underutilized properties contaminated by hazardous substances, pollutants, or other environmental concerns. Securing federal EPA funding for cleanup helps address environmental health risks in the community without requiring the City to use its own budget. The motion was initiated by Council Members Harris-Dawson and Hutt, indicating this is a priority for the district.
Key Details
The Committee meeting occurred on October 21, 2025, and all five committee members present (Nazarian, Yaroslavsky, Jurado, Raman, and Padilla) voted unanimously in favor. The proposal specifically targets Council District Eight and involves coordination between multiple city departments, including the Economic and Workforce Development Department. Notably, the City's financial analysts have not yet completed a fiscal impact analysis of this proposal.
Impact
This proposal primarily affects residents and businesses in Council District Eight by potentially removing environmental contamination from their community. A successful grant would enable site remediation, which could lead to economic revitalization, improved public health, and potential future development of currently unusable properties.
What is Being Proposed?
The motion authorizes the Bureau of Sanitation to apply for a United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Cleanup Grant to fund the remediation of contaminated sites in Council District 8. If awarded, the grant would support cleanup activities on brownfield sites (abandoned, contaminated properties) within the district.
Why?
Council District 8 has experienced decades of disinvestment and redlining, resulting in numerous blighted brownfields and contaminated sites that remain unremediated. These environmental hazards contribute to public health risks and discourage development. A specific opportunity exists to remediate the site at 9402 S. Broadway, where the Bureau of Sanitation plans to develop a high-quality grocery store, retail spaces, and over 180 housing units. The EPA grant would remove a major barrier to this transformative investment by addressing land contamination while addressing critical community needs for food access and affordable housing.
Key Details
Location: Council District 8, with focus on 9402 S. Broadway Funding Source: EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant Program Coordination: The BOS Citywide Brownfields Program will oversee the application process to ensure compliance with EPA requirements Support Agencies: Economic and Workforce Development Department and other city departments will assist
Impact
This affects residents of Council District 8 by removing environmental barriers to community development, potentially bringing food access, retail opportunities, and new housing to an underserved area.