East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice info@eycej.org 323.263.2113

SCIG Toxic Railyard

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Southern California International Gateway (SCIG) Toxic Railyard

The proposed Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) SCIG Railyard threatens the health, safety, and quality of life of local residents, students, and workers. BNSF Railway, owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc., is attempting to construct a new rail yard, about 4 miles from the San Pedro Bay Ports near sections of Long Beach, Wilmington, and Carson and neighboring residential communities, schools, day care centers, senior centers, and churches. Along with the proposed expansion for the existing Union Pacific Intermodal Container Transfer Facility (UP ICTF) nearby, the cumulative impacts from the projected 3 million containers a year coming to these neighborhoods can be detrimental to the local communities.

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Community Vision:

A community where children can grow up free from pollution through: 

    1. Maximizing on-dock rail
  1. Zero emission technologies
  2. Green jobs for local residents

We do not think that SCIG or any railyards should be built next to places where people live, work, play, & pray.

In May 2013, EYCEJ members & allies attended the LA City Council meeting where the Council was to review the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the SCIG project. Many community residents who live directly next to the proposed site testified in opposition to the project.

Unfortunately, the councilmembers voted in favor of the SCIG. We were disappointed with the City Council’s decision to support a project that exemplifies environmental racism. Building a rail yard next to homes & schools in a community that is already overburdened by pollution also violates California & federal civil rights laws.

Soon after the City Council decided to support the SCIG, EYCEJ, represented by the Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC), invoked the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) mediation process, but our request was denied by BNSF. At that point, EYCEJ decided to go forward with litigation & filed suit.

Current Status of SCIG:

We have won multiple lawsuits which have delayed the SCIG project from moving forward to be built near our communities. Currently, the City of Los Angeles & Port of Los Angeles have not made any statements that the project is no longer moving forward. Community leaders, organizations, & our legal partners are staying vigilant to continue to delay, stop, & prevent the construction of this toxic railyard that will have huge impacts to the South Coast region. 

If you would like to get more involved in SCIG & updates, please reach out to our Long Beach Team at info@eycej.org ℅ SCIG.

No SCIG! Website: www.lb4health.org

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