Toxic Tour

 On October 24-27 1991, community leaders from across North America converged on Washington, DC for what would be an historically defining moment for the environmental justice movement. The United Church of Christ’s Commission for Racial Justice sponsored the First National People of Color Leadership Summit where the Principles of Environmental Justice were drafted and marked a new evolution in the fight for racial and socioeconomic justice.

The Environmental Justice movement has a long history intertwined within the Civil Rights Movement and has roots in the Black Civil Rights Movement, the American Indian Movement, the Chicano, Asian and Pacific Islander, and other Civil Rights Movements (Valle de Oro NWR Environmental and Economic Justice Strategic Plan 2017-2021). The movement gained traction through community activism, but was also spurred along by cornerstone reports and studies including the UCC Commission for Racial Justice “Toxic Waste and Race in the United States: A National Report on the Racial and Socio-Economic Characteristics of Hazardous Waste Sites'' in 1987 which established toxic waste sites disproportionately affect poor communities of color. In Warren County, NC, the 1983 “Government Accountability Office Report'' discussed a Black Community’s fight against a PCB (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) landfill. The phrase “Environmental Racism” was coined for the first time by Chavis in this document. In 1990, Dr. Robert Bullard detailed years of research which showed the correlation between locations of landfills and incinerators to poor and communities of color in Houston, Texas in his report, “Dumping on Dixie: Race Class and Environmental Quality''.

Through collective research and organization, organizers also recognized the need for a collective response to environmental injustices across the country. A second People of Color Summit was held in 2002, resulting in the production of the “Principles of Working Together” and the transition from a grassroots movement to a “more loosely identified movement”. The demands for greater governmental action resulted in the Clinton Administration signing Executive Order 12898 in 1994 which assigned Federal Agencies to identify and rectify health hazards which disproportionately effect poor communities of color. It also required Federal Agencies to develop their own plans to seek environmental justice efforts within their operations. “The conceptualization of the environment as a project of preservation, conservation and recreation was forever challenged by the collective voices of the participants and their leadership. The Environmental Justice Movement collectively defined the environment as where we live, work, play, pray and go to school.”

This tour, originally held in person at Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge’s Environmental Justice Day, is meant to recognize the challenges the Mountain View Community faces in their own fight for environmental health and prosperity through seeing and telling the history of the neighborhood and, in turn, telling the story of Environmental Justice across the country. The tour has been led historically by community members and representatives of Mountain View Neighborhood Association, Los Jardines Institute and Friends of Valle de Oro NWR. This story map intends to carry on the spirit of the in-person tour in a digital format with the added ability to share the story and utilize the story for learning and educational purposes.

This tour, in its original format and in its current story map, would not be possible without the help from our partner groups and those who continue the fight for Environmental Justice. We would like to recognize the organizations who have helped carry the stories of community:

 

• Mountain View Neighborhood Association
• Mountain View Community Action
• Los Jardines Institute
• Friends of Valle de Oro NWR
• Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge

The South Valley is on Southern Tiwa Land, it abuts the Pueblo of Isleta and the City of Albuquerque and encompasses the communities of San Jose, Mountain View, Armijo, Atrisco, Los Padillas, Pajarito and Pajarito Mesa. Historically, the South Valley was an agricultural area made up of several small towns lying along both sides of the Rio Grande. 

The northern portions of the South Valley east of the Rio Grande have a broad variety of zoning classifications from SU (Special Use), to A-1 (Agricultural) to M-1 and M-2 (for Manufacturing and Heavy Manufacturing) and lastly, R-1 (single family residential). Meaning neighborhoods tucked in between a lot of industrial activities. (City of Albuquerque, Simple Map Viewer zoning layer, 2016)

The South Valley has a long list of serious environmental justice and public health issues including five major bulk fuel terminals which store gasoline, diesel and jet fuel tanks (Mohr, 2009) and septic tank contamination (McQuillian 1982, 1983, McMullan et. al., 1989). In Mountain View and San Jose there is substantial concern about two Superfund sites: the San Jose or South Valley PCB Tank Site (EPA ID# NMD980745558) and the AT&SF Superfund Site (EPA ID#NM980622864); in addition to the over 40 EPA regulated sites in the community.

Continuing proposals for air quality permits including crusher plants, a recycling transfer station, and other polluting facilities in the heart of the community continue to create physical, safety and health stressors in the community. 

 In 1961, nitrate contamination of a well serving the Mountain View Elementary had been recorded at 900 mg/L, way above the state standard of 10 mg/L (Keleher, 2008). Although the well was plugged, it was not until after 1980 that the school and the community were connected to municipal water. The plume is estimated to have a volume of 5,189 acre-feet (Nuttal & Dutten, 2004). The maximum concentration is greater than 350 milligrams per liter (mg/L). 

It was only after the near death of an infant from methemoglobinemia, 20+ years after documentation of the plume, that the community came to know of the contamination. Nitrate contamination can cause a disruption in oxygen flow to the body, particularly in infants. However, other effects can be cancer (McQuillan, 1982), disruption of thyroid functions, birth defects (Nuttal, 1997) and possibly learning disabilities among other ailments.

Equitable access to reliable transportation is also an essential part of creating healthy, equitable neighborhoods. Although located just seven miles south of Downtown Albuquerque, the Mountain View neighborhood struggles with having safe, reliable access to alternative modes of transportation. Personal vehicles are the primary mode of transportation in Mountain View which can be a major barrier for lower income individuals who don’t have access to a car. The neighborhood is only serviced by one bus route, route 51, which only runs every hour. Non-car owning residents in the area rely on this as the only way to get to downtown Albuquerque. Bus stops often have sidewalks but do not connect to surrounding residential streets. In addition, much of the neighborhood lacks sidewalks, forcing many pedestrians to walk on the road shoulder.

Large trucks hauling materials pose another safety threat to bicycles and pedestrians in Mountain View. They are major contributors to traffic and pollution (both air and sound) in the area, especially along 2nd street and Broadway Blvd. Although there are regulations requiring vehicles carrying hazardous materials to use Broadway Blvd., there is still substantial industrial traffic down 2nd street which bisects a majority of the community.

This is the struggle and fight of the Mountain View community and its neighboring communities in and around the South Valley.

Established as the nation’s 559th Refuge in September 27, 2012, Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge is the first Urban Wildlife Refuge established under the  USFWS Urban Wildlife Conservation Program  and the  Urban Wildlife Refuge Standards of Excellence . It’s also the first refuge with a community-based Environmental and Economic Justice Strategic Plan. The 570 acre Refuge is located on the former Price’s Valley Gold Farm in an underserved environmental justice area of Albuquerque, New Mexico; specifically the Mountain View Neighborhood in the South Valley. The Refuge’s establishment resulted from a desire of the community to protect this property from industrial development and preserve the land and associated water rights for wildlife and for future generations and the USFWS desire to facilitate better connection with urban communities to help grow a connected conservation constituency and enable the agency to remain relevant in a changing America

Photos by (Left to Right): Marisa McGill-Rodriguez, Anthony Temer, Wenshu Chen, Barbara Stewart

The refuge is a critical waypoint for migratory birds and a source for resources for non-human life, including a wide variety of insects, animals and plants. This will contribute to a greater diversity of resources and life, for both human and non-human life alike. The refuge development effort is aimed to culminate in 2037 after more than 20 years of restoration of the natural habitat of this area and healthier communities for all life in and connected to this area. (Valle de Oro NWR Environmental and Economic Justice Strategic Plan 2017-2021).

The Mountain View Community has many strengths and assets that increase the resilience of the community to overcome the numerous challenges they face due to structural racism. First is the environmental asset, which is its proximity to the river, bosque and aquifer. Many of the residents in the area have access to their own wells and have their own septic tanks. (Most residents are barely now just accessing city infrastructure and utilities.) The community is located in an area that naturally, before urbanization and industrial development, was a vibrant ecosystem along the Rio Grande as part of the Bosque and what’s known as a riparian zone (near the river) and uplands.

There is also a profound political and cultural history. Mountain View and surrounding communities have a deep history of grassroots organizing and leading advancements for both people and environment. This includes the Mountain View Community being identified as an Environmental Justice Legacy community. This includes a history of well organized efforts of community-based planning and development. Including a Sector Development Plan that was completed by community members in the early 2000s. This development plan envisioned much of the developments that have occurred in the last several years, though when it was originally released it was denied by elected officials in city and county governments. 

The Mountain View community consists of a combination of agricultural and urban culture among residents. A large portion of the residential area surrounding the refuge consists of agricultural land with many residents still growing food and working with livestock, this includes access to the acequias. Another cultural strength is the presence of first generation and immigrant peoples who live in the community and contribute to the cultural diversity of the community. Many of the polluting facilities and jobs working with toxic or hazardous waste are operated by the immigrant population, especially those working at the junk yards, auto yards and metal recycling facilities.

An asset that adds immeasurable value to Mountain View is the Community Garden and Sustainability Project, El Jardin.

El jardin is about building a place to gather, to strengthen community cohesion and revitalize both the land and the cultures of the people who live in Mountain View. El Jardin has many generations of residents who belong to it, including long time residents who have lived in the community for decades, to newer members of the community. Leroy and Amzie, two of the volunteer leads of the garden emphasized the beauty of children and elders gathering together like they did when they were children.

They also expressed celebration for the cross-pollination between residents in sharing their knowledge and skills. It also has been a place to gather and discuss their strategy for developing a clear vision of a community that is free of further contamination and exploitation of industry in the area. The garden is an effort at revitalizing both the culture and the environment in the area, both of which have been under attack by environmental racism and capitalism which has preyed upon the community and also made them invisible during planning and permitting processes. El Jardin is making Mountain View residents visible to one another and the city at large. This includes partnering with other community organizations for vetoing permit applications from future industrial polluters and supplying fresh organic food to local food banks for those who may not have access to healthy nutritious foods.

The Mountain View Community Center is a critical piece of public infrastructure to the area. It is the only Community Center in the area and provides an indoor basketball court, arts and crafts room, a banquet hall and large outdoor grass area and outdoor play area for kids. It is highly cherished and embraced by community members and is one of the only safe and green spaces for recreation and gathering amongst the community. The community center is located in the midst of industry, directly neighboring multiple facilities responsible for emitting pollutants.

Mountain View Elementary is also an essential part of the community as a space for children to learn and as a gathering place for families. Recently, the school was reconstructed in 2017 with essential improvements the school previously didn't have, including a safe drinking water system and centralized heating/cooling. The school was also a major supporter for the 2nd street bike path that now crosses in front of the school Now Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge partners with the school to host field trips and educational workshops to deepen children's connections to nature.

In July 2011, Albuquerque Metals Recycling in the South Valley (another site on our EJ Tour) had a massive fire that spread toxic smoke across the community. Little did anyone know at that time that it could have been even worse. Right next door to the scrap yard is DPC Enterprises, which at any one time contains upwards of over a million pounds of toxic chlorine gas on site. This is in addition to chlorine gas being known to react violently when in contact with petroleum products, DPC is within a quarter mile of huge petroleum storage tanks, as can be seen later in this map.

This is one of many close calls. On June 3, 2006, the facility had a release of anhydrous ammonia, another poisonous gas. This is the same company that has had dangerous chlorine releases at its facilities in Glendale, Arizona, and Festus, Missouri, that sent dozens of people to the hospital. This story is not unique to our community. According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Risk Management Program, 483 chemical facilities in 43 states each put 100,000 or more people at risk of a chemical disaster. In 2011, the EPA’s National Environmental Justice Advisory Council met in Albuquerque to discuss issues of environmental justice and hear from the public. Through the testimony of several individuals they learned of the risk chemical plants pose to the economically disadvantaged and people of color. Right here in Albuquerque, 88.9 percent of the people living within a mile of the DPC facility are identifed as people of color and 33.7 percent live below the poverty line.

It’s important to note that Chlorine gas was used in warfare, particularly trench warfare, due to chlorine gas weighing 2.5 times more than air. This means it crawls along the ground, falling into the lowest places, suffocating and causing chemical burns to the living beings it comes into contact with.

The GE Superfund site (GE Aircraft Engines) is the former US Air Force Plant 83 where airplane engines were built. The site sits vacant, fenced off by a metal gate with locks and razor wire. To this day, semi-volatile compounds and hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] remain above industrial soil screening levels. Hexavalent chromium is known to cause cancer. Cr(VI) targets the respiratory system, kidneys, liver, skin, and eyes. Exposure to Cr(VI) can occur through breathing, ingestion, or contact with skin. Strong data links ingestion of Cr(VI) through drinking water to severe health effects.

Prior to WWII, the Mountain View area was a very traditional agricultural community. Post war, the area became further industrialized. A reliable water source has not always been easy to come by in the Mountain View community. Well water in the area has been found to have significant levels of contaminants from the surrounding industrial activity so residents are urged by the Bernalillo County Environmental Health Department to use City of Albuquerque water.

An acequia lies on the East border of the GE Superfund site. Due to extreme soil and groundwater contamination, it is no longer able to be used to get much needed irrigation water to the Mountain View neighborhood.

Where does this leave us today? Right now, the Mountain View neighborhood still fights for the right to clean water, air, and land. Currently, the neighborhood is fighting against the construction of an asphalt plant near its southeast corner which will have detrimental effects on community health and safety. Construction of this asphalt plant also “violates the state's constitutional legal guarantee of equal protection and due process,” said Eric Jantz, an attorney with the New Mexico Environmental Law Center” (Kutz, 2021).

With the support of the Mountain View Neighborhood Association, Mountain View Community Action Association, Los Jardines Institute, the Friends of Valle de Oro, and Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge, the Mountain View community strives to protect the land and the historic way of life it has provided for generations.

Photos by (left to right): Drew Morrow, Laurel Ladwig, Cecilia Beltran

•  Sign this petition  to block the most recent permit for a new industrial facility. The community is petitioning the permit due to inadequate environmental impact analysis and a need for a cumulative assessment of the combined pollution in the community.

• Thank you to our partners who have helped us today and everyday in uplifting our histories to the world through their activism, outreach, and support. This tour and Environmental Justice Community Day would not be possible without all of you.

• The Residents of Mountain View
•  Mountain View Neighborhood Association 
•  Los Jardines Institute 
•  Friends of Valle de Oro 
•  Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge  
• Mountain View Community Action
• Center for Sustainable Social Systems (CESOSS)
• Mountain View Elementary School 
• George I Sanchez Community School 
• Atrisco Heritage
• Bernalillo County Parks & Recreation
• AMAFCA
• South Valley Mainstreet
• Mountain View Community Center
• ALMA
• La Plazita Institute
• New Mexico Environmental Law Center
• South Valley Regional Acequia Association 
• Korimi Community Health 
• Partnership for Community Action
• First Choice Community Health 
• Acricultura Farm Network
• Pueblo of Isleta 
• Pueblo Action Alliance
• Rocky Mountain Youth Corps
• Ancestral Lands/Southwest Conservation Corps 
• Middle Rio Grande Conservancy Department
• Bosque Ecosystem Monitoring Project
• Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District