Phyllis Kimber Wilcox |
On March 30th the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice (CCAEJ), an organization dedicated to social and environmental justice, filed a lawsuit against the City of Ontario for its plan to build a large industrial park and business center on land previously set aside for farming and agricultural use.
The project would require rezoning amendments to the City of Ontario’s Logistics Center Specific Plan.
In its lawsuit CCAEJ alleges the proposed construction of the industrial park violates the South Ontario Logistics Center Specific Plan by allowing funds which are supposed to be used for “agricultural preservation, agricultural and wildlife education, wildlife habitat, or for open-space conservation purposes” to purchase land for development outside that mandate.
Executive Director of CCAEJ Ana Gonzalez stated, “This project violates the right of the community to live free from environmental harm. These lands are restricted to agricultural lands and the community’s voices were ignored.”
Gonzalez stressed that to preserve environmental justice and equity, it is crucial that these communities receive transparency about the impacts that this rezoning can have on their health and well-being.
Environmental Impact Reports (EIR) are studies conducted to consider how planned construction projects will affect the geographic areas in which they are located. The community is then given a chance to offer their input during a specific comment period following the issuance of the draft EIR.
During the comment period for this project although many farmers’ groups, environmental justice advocates and members of the public offered comments, according to the CCAEJ, the group asserts these comments were not adequately addressed by officials in the final EIR.
“In light of these comments being disregarded and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process not being followed, CCAEJ has filed a lawsuit against the City of Ontario for the approval of this project,” the organization stated in a press release.
There were additional concerns with the final EIR according to CCAEJ that were not adequately addressed or mitigations proposed related to what the group identified as “significant environmental effects the project would create” including adverse effects on air and water quality as well as effects on general health and welfare.
The IE Voice will continue to follow this story.