West Oakland Students Fight Industrial Pollution

In Spring 2007, students at EXCEL High School in West Oakland began monitoring a scrap metal processing and aluminum smelting facility near their school. What tipped them off? Metal debris littering the public streets around the facility and a strong smell of burning metal periodically wafting through the neighborhood.

With guidance from New Voices staff, Global Community Monitor staff, and the director of the Law Academy at EXCEL High School, the students sent the debris to be analyzed for heavy metals, and then compared those results to samples of particulate matter collected just outside their classroom. When potentially toxic metals like lead, cadmium, and nickel showed up in the classroom samples, as well as in the metal debris, students took their concerns public with a student-led press conference.

When the new school year rolled around, the facility had cleaned up the metal debris, but the problem of potentially toxic metals in the air remained. A new group of EXCEL students took up where their peers had left off, gaining a host of advocacy skills as they continued to investigate the facility's emissions and raise awareness about the issue.

Throughout the 2007-2008 school year, New Voices staff worked with the director of the Law Academy and co-taught a year-long curriculum in which students conducted an action research project including:

Environmental tests and pollution monitoring. Students were trained by Global Community Monitor to take wipe samples of dust inside and outside their classroom and outside a neighbor's home, and to use a Mini-Vol portable air monitor to take more sophisticated air samples from the roof of their school and from neighbors' yards.

Community outreach and neighbor surveys. Students developed questions for a neighbor survey in order to find out what neighbors knew about the company and its operations. The surveys were distributed at a West Oakland Neighbors meeting, after which the students started working more closely with one neighbor who lives very near the facility. Later, the students and that neighbor made a presentation at the community meeting to raise awareness and encourage  people to get involved in gathering more information. 

Outreach to elected officials and regulatory agencies. Students contacted their city council person, Nancy Nadel, and began working closely with her to address the issues at the factory. With Nancy's help, students and neighbors got the attention of several city agencies and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

Media Outreach. Students have held two press conferences, have learned how to prepare talking points, and have been interviewed on several occasions. Check out the press coverage of the students' work!

CAMPAIGN UPDATES

January 2009: West Oakland Air Monitors meet with BAAQMD staff to establish details of air monitoring project. Neighbors recognize need for continued pressure on BAAQMD to involve community throughout the planning and monitoring process. Community will launch parallel testing program run by neighbors and Global Community Monitor.

November 2008: West Oakland Air Monitors and student advocates testify at Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) Board Meeting, demanding better regulation of CASS activities and of the facility's pollution stream. Their testimony yields commitment from BAAQMD to test for airborne heavy metals around CASS as well as review of facility by Stationary Source Committee.

September 2008: West Oakland Air Monitors and EXCEL students, with the help of Nancy Nadel and City of Oakland agencies, continue to see progress in their work to make CASS a better neighbor. Steady pressure and regular collaborative meetings have yielded:

• Significant noise reduction at night, allowing neighbors to sleep;
• New truck parking signs, reducing congestion of neighborhood streets with parked trucks and trailers;
  
• Legal action requiring CASS to address its mishandling of hazardous waste;
• Enforcement of building codes, reducing blight and ensuring the building does not pose a threat to neighbors and passersby.
  

August 2008: EXCEL students and their community partners make national news! Check out Newsweek's 'Project Green' article here.   

June 2008: Global Community Monitor is now supporting the West Oakland Air Monitors, the group of neighbors who have come together - inspired by the students - and are now engaged in a campaign to make the facility a good neighbor. Visit the Global Community Monitor website for the most recent campaign developments!