From Superfund Legacy to Strategic Energy Asset

Executive Summary

Redevelopment of the Halaco Superfund Site: A Coordinated Vision for Sustainable Revitalization

I have been at the forefront of efforts to transform the former Halaco Scrap Metal Smelting Plant in Oxnard, California for over a decade. Though a designated Federal Superfund site burdened with environmental challenges, the property presents significant opportunities for innovative redevelopment. I have advocated for adaptive reuse and engaged in multi-stakeholder collaboration with public and private sector partners to align project goals with local, regional and national priorities.

As lead coordinator my commitment is to foster collaboration, adapt to evolving opportunities, and maintain a vision for sustainable redevelopment. With the renewed focus on energy resilience and national security, the Halaco site stands poised to become a model of innovation and progress.

PHASE I: Early Vision and Stakeholder Engagement

The initial vision for reclamation and redevelopment of the Halaco site included cleaning the land, reclaiming and selling valuable metals, and exploring the construction of a desalination plant to address local water demands. Recognizing the complexity of the project, I convened a diverse coalition of stakeholders to establish a unified approach.

The First Meeting

Representatives from various sectors, including government, environmental organizations, and community groups, convened to discuss the site’s potential. Attendees included:

State and Federal Representatives:

Louise Rishof representing Assemblymember Julia Brownley

Jeannette Sanchez representing Assemblymember Das Williams

Carla Castilla and Rachel V. Kondor representing Congresswoman Lois Capps

Kara Seward, via phone representing Senator Fran Pavley

Local Officials:

Lauren Bianchi representing County Supervisor Kathy Long

Oxnard City Councilwoman Carmen Ramirez

Oxnard Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Irene Pinkard

Community and Environmental Advocates:

Karen Kraus Staff Attorney (Environmental Development Center).

Kira Redmond (Santa Barbara Channel Keeper)

Beatriz H. Garcia (CAUSE)

Outcomes and Lessons Learned

Changes in the economy and metals marketplace rendered the initial vision economically infeasible but, the process laid a strong foundation of collaboration, established key relationships, and demonstrated the potential for aligning environmental remediation with innovative economic development. My work has combined coalition building, adaptive reuse strategy, and public-private coordination to reposition Halaco for clean technology manufacturing, workforce development, and long-term community benefit. With renewed federal priorities around critical infrastructure and defense readiness, the Halaco sie now stands poised to become a battery testing and manufacturing hub that strengthens the grid supporting military bases and data-center operations while creating high-quality local jobs.

PHASE II CREST –

Community Resilience & Energy Security TestbedA Model Proving Ground for Sustainable Redevelopment

The CREST (Community Resilience & Energy Security Testbed) is the next phase in transforming the Halaco Superfund Site into a nationally significant model of environmental restoration, advanced energy technology development, and economic revitalization. What began as an effort focused on remediation and critical mineral recovery has evolved into a comprehensive vision for a proving ground where advanced battery systems, microgrids, and other resilient energy technologies can be developed, tested, demonstrated, and commercialized while supporting workforce development and environmental stewardship.

The Time Is Now

Today, a unique convergence of technological, environmental, economic, and policy developments has created unprecedented opportunity. Building on this convergence, CREST has developed a vision for transforming the Halaco Superfund Site into a national proving ground for sustainable redevelopment and is engaging with organizations whose interests and expertise can help shape and advance that vision. Possibilities abound as:

• The U.S. Navy focuses on advancing next-generation battery and microgrid technologies to provide energy security and resilience,
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency seeks to accelerate remediation and redevelopment of 1340 Superfund Sites nationwide through the Superfund Solutions Initiative,
• Ventura County and regional organizations continue to promote and invest in innovation, economic and workforce development, and community resilience, and
• The Ormond Beach Wetlands Restoration Project revitalizes adjacent coastal habitat while enhancing climate resilience, public access, education, and workforce development opportunities.

CREST provides a collaborative platform for engaging government agencies, industry leaders, academic and research institutions, investors, environmental organizations, and community stakeholders to explore how the CREST vision can be refined, strengthened, and implemented. These ongoing discussions seek to identify opportunities where individual organizational objectives align with the broader goal of transforming a former industrial site into a model of environmental restoration, clean energy innovation, economic opportunity, and community resilience.

More than a technology demonstration site, CREST is envisioned as a proving ground for next-generation sustainability and resilience solutions—a place where technologies, partnerships, financing models, governance approaches, and redevelopment strategies can be conceived, tested, validated, and brought to scale. By integrating environmental restoration with energy innovation, workforce development, and public-private collaboration, CREST seeks to establish a replicable model for communities across the nation facing similar environmental and economic challenges.As the initiative moves forward, CREST is expanding relationships across the energy innovation ecosystem, including technology developers, universities, national laboratories, investment partners, regional innovation networks such as The Hive, and other organizations with complementary interests. These conversations are intended to strengthen collaboration, accelerate technology validation and commercialization, attract future public and private investment, and advance CREST's vision as a nationally recognized model of beneficial systems change.