Per the EPA, “a brownfield is a property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.” Brownfields funding from the EPA and DTSC allows for state, local governments, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders to collaborate on activities associated with the prevention, assessment, cleanup, and planning for sustainable and equitable reuse of brownfields. 

Learn More about Brownfields 

• Understanding Brownfields | US EPA 
• Types of EPA Brownfield Grant Funding
• Frequently Asked Questions | US EPA 
• Brownfields Funding | Department of Toxic Substances Control  

These grants support identification and prioritization of brownfields sites in National City, CA, environmental site assessments at brownfields sites, and brownfields reuse planning. Grant funds also will be used to support community engagement activities. The target area for this grant is a 158-acre district in the City of National City that has been designated as the "Downtown Specific Plan Area." This area is a historically underserved community with a history of different land uses, some of which has led to environmental contamination. 

Four pre-selected sites have been identified for environmental site assessments, shown below.  Additional sites will also be identified following a comprehensive inventory of brownfields in the city.

View the report from the Technical Assistance Panel led by the Urban Land Institute.

Learn more about technical assistance panels.

View our inventory of opportunity sites in National City. This inventory was created based on:

• nominations by National City community members,
• the City of National City's amortization list of properties with nonconforming use, and
• the US EPA's ACRES Cleanups in My Community database.

Map of opportunity sites

Our Community Engagement Plan was developed with input from our Brownfields Advisory Committee and the broader National City community. Follow our progress by reviewing our Community Engagement Fact Sheet.

This space will be updated with results of Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments (ESAs). The US EPA has additional information about PhI ESAs in English and Spanish.

Our environmental consultants, EnSAFE, completed Phase I environmental site assessments on three of the pre-selected sites. These are ‘armchair’ studies based on historical information about past uses of the sites. This means that no actual groundwater or soil sampling has been done.

A Limited Phase II ESA has been conducted for the Welding Shop (140 W 18th St). Additional Phase II ESAs will be completed in order to establish the true nature and extent of contamination at other brownfield sites.

• Phase I ESA 2024 - 1028 A Ave, National City CA
  
• Phase I ESA 2024 - 921-929 National City CA 
• Limited Phase II ESA 2023 - 140 W 18th St-Paradise Creek