West Oakland, California — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has signed a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), local regulators, community organizations, and a business to address pollution caused by metal shredding operations in West Oakland. This new collaboration aims to tackle the environmental and public health concerns stemming from Radius Recycling, a facility at the center of the issue.
In 2023, a devastating fire broke out at Radius Recycling, formerly known as Schnitzer Steel, located in west Oakland. This incident exacerbated existing air pollution issues, compounding the frustrations of the nearby community that had already been grappling with environmental concerns. Reported by the Oak Landside, the blaze ignited in a stockpile of tin and iron destined for a metal shredder. For nearly two days, thick smoke billowed from the charred site, prompting the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to issue an air quality advisory for the East Bay. Winds carried the gray smoke southward to San Jose and, later, northward to Vallejo. Residents throughout Oakland were urged to remain indoors to minimize exposure.
In the months that followed, a range of organizations, including the EPA, CalEPA, and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, conducted extensive testing of the air, water, and soil surrounding the facility. Months on, the Department of Toxic Substances Control analyzed soil samples affected by the fire and discovered elevated levels of copper, lead, and zinc, surpassing hazardous waste thresholds. This prompted the department, along with the state attorney general, to pursue further action against the company.
The Department of Toxic Substances Control indicated that Radius Recycling failed to properly report the fire and did not take adequate measures to mitigate the risk of a hazardous waste-generating fire, which they claim violates the state’s Hazardous Waste Control Law.
These violations following the fire only added to the facility’s troubling history of environmental harm. In 2021, the Portland-based company faced a $4.1 million settlement with the California Department of Justice for releasing toxic air contaminants and hazardous particulates throughout West Oakland.
After the fire, the company faced multiple penalties. In August 2023, the air district issued three notices of violation, while both the state and regional water boards followed suit with their own notice of violation.
The three-year MOU, known as the West Oakland Collaborative, brings together the EPA, CalEPA, the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project (WOEIP), and Radius Recycling. The goal of the initiative is to find innovative solutions to mitigate the negative impacts of metal shredding operations on the surrounding community.
Cheree Peterson, the EPA’s Pacific Southwest Deputy Regional Administrator, emphasized the potential for this partnership to set a model for other communities facing similar issues. “This agreement demonstrates the power and possibility of outcome-driven, collaborative problem solving that will help bring long-term improvements to the community,” Peterson said.
The agreement follows a year of engagement between WOEIP and an inter-agency Rapid Response Task Force, formed to address compliance issues following an August 2023 fire at Radius Recycling. Although regulatory investigations and enforcement actions were initiated, local residents remained concerned about ongoing health and safety risks associated with the facility’s operations.
California Secretary for Environmental Protection, Yana Garcia, expressed hope for the partnership’s impact on the community. “West Oakland residents deserve a healthy environment and have long pushed for one,” she stated. “This collaborative effort is a ‘plot twist’ in addressing pollution burdens in California, and it’s a step toward providing all communities with the solutions they deserve.”
Margaret Gordon, Co-Executive Director of WOEIP, noted that the community has endured decades of pollution and multiple fires linked to the Radius Recycling facility. “Our expectation is that by regulation and by law, this should be resolved through the Rapid Response Task Force and this MOU,” she said.
The MOU does not alter the existing regulatory oversight of the Radius facility. Agencies will continue to enforce compliance with regulations and investigate any ongoing issues. However, this partnership signals a new approach to solving community health and safety concerns, with the collaboration of regulators, local groups, and the business at the heart of the issue.
By working together, stakeholders hope to reduce pollution, improve public health, and provide a framework for resolving industrial impacts on communities.
