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.

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.

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

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 Defense Center)

• Kira Redmond (Santa Barbara Channel Keeper)

• Beatriz H. Garcia (CAUSE)

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 site 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.