During a recent visit to Watts, EPA Administrator Michael Regan pledged to address long-standing environmental injustices in the South Los Angeles community, particularly those caused by the nearby scrap metal recycler S&W Atlas Iron & Metal Co. The company, long criticized for its unsafe operations and contamination of the local area, is under fire for failing to prevent hazardous waste from polluting nearby schools and storm drains. Regan emphasized that the EPA would hold Atlas accountable, and promised to work alongside Watts residents to address pollution, including elevated lead levels in local drinking water.
But while the EPA’s efforts to target scrap metal recycling facilities are welcome, there is a glaring omission in the conversation: the pollution from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Recent data, highlighted by “The Los Angeles Times,” shows that the majority of the pollution in South Los Angeles and surrounding areas comes from port traffic, not just industrial sites like Atlas Metals. In 2021, pollution from the ports surged due to a pandemic-driven shipping boom, resulting in alarming increases in harmful emissions.
At the Port of Los Angeles alone, diesel particulate matter—which can cause cancer—jumped 56%, while smog-forming nitrogen oxides increased by 54%. The Port of Long Beach saw similar spikes, raising concerns about the air quality for nearby residents, including those in communities like Watts.
Despite the EPA’s focus on localized industrial pollution, the growing problem of port-related emissions cannot be ignored. The surge in cargo traffic and ships idling off the Southern California coast during the pandemic has exposed the ports as a major contributor to smog and greenhouse gas emissions, making the air quality crisis even more severe. While scrap metal recyclers are a known hazard, the data shows that port traffic is an even bigger threat to the health of South Los Angeles residents, raising the question of whether the EPA’s efforts will be enough without addressing the broader issue of port pollution.
Regan’s focus on environmental justice is crucial for neighborhoods like Watts, where residents have long borne the brunt of industrial contamination and government neglect. Yet, it’s clear that port traffic poses an even more significant health risk.
As Regan pushes for accountability from polluters, the bigger question remains: will his efforts extend to the ports, where pollution levels have reached crisis proportions? Communities like Watts cannot afford to wait, and the EPA’s commitment to environmental justice must include a serious, coordinated response to port emissions if meaningful progress is to be made. Otherwise, the residents of South Los Angeles will continue to suffer the health consequences of unchecked pollution from all sources.
