National City is seeking public input on a draft environmental review of a proposed fuel transfer station, which the state and some residents say would exacerbate diesel pollution in their already polluted neighborhood. Houston-based USD Clean Fuels wants to build a new biofuels terminal along the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad, between San Diego Bay and Interstate 5. The project involves moving biofuels, such as renewable diesel, ethanol and potentially sustainable aviation fuel, from rail cars into trucks “for more efficient delivery to local retailers than the current supply chain,” according to the environmental review report. The site, to be operated daily around the clock, would employ more than 20 full-time operators. “These terminals will provide needed infrastructure that will make the downstream logistics of biofuel production and feedstocks more efficient,” Bob Copher, Clean Fuels’ senior vice president, said in a statement when announcing the project last year. The proposal has not gone without pushback. Several residents have for months raised concerns that the company’s work would add more diesel pollution to west National City, an area where the state has implemented air monitoring and emissions reduction programs because residents there breathe more polluted air than 91% of the state. The community, along with Barrio Logan, Logan Heights and Sherman Heights, are considered Portside Environmental Justice Neighborhoods. In June, the state Air Resources Board said that while the project has the potential to help reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in California through its transport of sustainable fuels, it would also potentially increase heavy-duty truck and locomotive trips, “resulting in an increase in localized health impacts.” Clean Fuels has stated that the facility would average using 70 trucks daily and travel shorter distances than the current supply chain. It would be most active overnight and would not have any above- or below-ground fuel storage tanks on site. In November, the Environmental Health Coalition told city leaders that the added 70 truck trips and fuel transfer activities less than half a mile from Kimball Elementary School and St. Anthony of Padua Church “would destroy” progress made in reducing emissions as a Portside community. “The USDG Fuel transfer facility is dangerous and poses a serious threat to the goal of clean air in one of San Diego’s most pollution burdened neighborhoods,” read the Coalition’s letter. According to the environmental impact report, the project would help lower carbon emissions by reducing the state’s reliance on fossil-based diesel fuel and reducing overall truck mileage by approximately 2 million miles annually by cutting lengthy truck trips from Los Angeles and Inland Empire locations. It also states that neither project operations nor construction would result in a significant contribution to cancer risk in the community. The report does recommend the project add more measures to protect wildlife and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as limiting idling times for tanker truck vehicles to less than five minutes and demonstrating that the employee parking is electric vehicle ready before obtaining a building permit. The report identifies potential alternatives to avoid or substantially lessen the effects the facility could potentially have on the environment. Among them: reducing the number of truck trips by 25% daily or building the facility on a parcel east of Interstate 5 and the rail line. National City will accept feedback on the 305-page report through the end of January, after which it will prepare a final report for the Planning Commission. Commissioners will then vote to recommend the City Council either approve or reject the project.