“East Bay Reps Criticize EPA over $40M Threat to Bay Area Grants”
TL/DR –
Two congressional representatives from the East Bay are protesting the cancellation of a $19m grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for Contra Costa County, designated for fighting industrial pollution and constructing a community center at an urban farm. The grant was part of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 but was canceled in April due to no longer aligning with the administration’s priorities. The representatives, U.S. Reps. Mark DeSaulnier and John Garamendi, argue that the cancellation violates federal appropriations law, recent federal court injunctions, and the EPA’s contract with Contra Costa County, and they demand the EPA rescind the termination and investigate the termination process’s lack of transparency.
East Bay Congressmen Object to Cancelled $19M EPA Grant
Two East Bay Congressional Representatives are disputing the termination of a $19 million U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant, awarded to Contra Costa County for industrial pollution combat and community center construction at an urban farm.
An EPA Community Change program grant, awarded to San Francisco County for several transportation projects on Treasure Island, was put on hold in January and was still under review, according to Stephen Chun, a spokesperson for the San Francisco County Transportation Authority.
The Contra Costa County grant was marked for the North Richmond Community Resilience Initiative. This program includes several planned projects such as tree planting and housing in the unincorporated area northwest of Richmond city. It also includes the building of a community “resilience hub” at the 3-acre Urban Tilth nonprofit community farm. This hub will serve as a community center and an evacuation point during emergencies.
The objectives of the Resilience Initiative include reducing industrial pollution from the nearby East Bay oil refineries and a new distribution warehouse. The EPA Community Change Grant was awarded in December under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 but was abruptly cancelled in April, according to a letter sent to the EPA by the area’s congressional representatives.
Congressmen Mark DeSaulnier and John Garamendi wrote to EPA Director Lee Zeldin, criticizing the agency’s cancellation and asking for a reversal. They cited court rulings asserting that the EPA, part of the executive branch, cannot legally cancel a grant appropriated by Congress.
The lawmakers highlighted the agency’s breach of federal appropriations law, recent federal court injunctions, and EPA’s contract with Contra Costa County in their joint letter. They demanded immediate rescindment of the grant termination and a thorough investigation into the lack of transparency in EPA’s termination process.
The EPA has not yet responded to the letter or questions about the grant’s withdrawal. The agency justified the cancellation, stating that the grant no longer met the priorities of the current administration.
Garamendi said in a statement, “We will not stand by as legally appropriated funds are withheld from communities who need them most.”
Urban Tilth, on its website, posted a video detailing the planned use of the money, and urged the community to press the EPA for a reversal. The initiative includes eight main projects centered around the urban farm, like a fellowship program.
The main projects encompass planting 65 trees at the nearby Verde Elementary School, investing in an affordable housing project, an e-bikeshare program, and energy efficiency upgrades for local homes.
The grant was part of $1.6 billion awarded to 105 projects nationwide, designed to reduce pollution harm in the most impacted communities. About $216 million of this was awarded to 15 projects in California, including a nearly $20 million grant to the Treasure Island Mobility Management Agency for building electric ferry charging infrastructure, enhancing bus service, and creating a transit program.
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