For years Master Plating of San Diego, California, has been known for their extremely high quality repair work and plating for antique and classic cars. They have always had a large display add in Hemmings Motor News, as well as other car magazines, and thousands of hobbyists have used their services. Their quality chrome work can be found on numerous big-buck cars like Pierce-Arrows, Packards, Cadillacs, and other collector cars, including Chevrolets.

For many years folks have sent their parts to Master Plating to be repaired and plated, including the old dog, not knowing what was really going on behind the scenes. Here now is the story of why Master Plating, one of the most well-known collector car plating shops in the country, if not the world, has closed their doors forever:

EHC, Barrio Logan residents celebrate as
Master Plating closes its doors forever


(San Diego) – After more than ten years of community struggle, Barrio Logan residents and Environmental Health Coalition celebrated a monumental victory for public health on September 12 as the owner of Master Plating agreed to shut down by October 15, 2002.

Master Plating is a decorative chrome-plater that has been operating within several feet of homes on the 2100 block of Newton Avenue since the late 1980s. Despite hundreds of violations of environmental regulations, criminal prosecutions of the business owner and attempts by the City of San Diego to purchase the underlying property, Barrio Logan residents had previously been unsuccessful in getting the company shut down or relocated.

"Community residents have waited far too long for action that would reduce the risks to their health from this business," said Paula Forbis, Director of EHC’s Toxic-Free Neighborhood Campaign. "Finally, the concerns of the residents have been heard. Environmental Health Coalition and the community are grateful for the recent hard work by the California Air Resources Board and Supervisor Greg Cox. The closure of Master Plating is a tremendous victory for Barrio Logan and a first step towards eliminating toxic pollution from this community. But residents should be assured that contamination at the site will not be allowed to linger and continue to pose a threat to the community. We encourage public officials to pursue immediate cleanup of the site."

Barrio Logan resident Michael Martinez, whose home stands just a few feet from Master Plating, said the agreement was long overdue. "I honestly thought nothing would ever change," Martinez said. "I’ve had to learn patience in dealing with this problem. But finally, after the years of meetings, discussions and struggle to get public officials to listen to us, something good has happened. My children and grandchildren can look forward to a healthier future now that Master Plating will be shutdown forever."

The County of San Diego settlement requires Master Plating to shut down on or before October 15, 2002, and to remove equipment, clean and decontaminate the facility, and completely remove all hazardous waste and materials under the supervision of the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health by November 15, 2002.

Public pressure from Barrio Logan residents and Environmental Health Coalition prompted renewed investigation by state and local environmental agencies into the potential health impacts from having plating shops located next door to homes. In January, EHC and Barrio Logan residents called for the immediate shutdown of polluting operations at Master Plating after the California Air Resources Board (ARB) and the San Diego Air Pollution Control District issued a notice that showed high levels of chromium 6 detected near the plating company. Chromium 6 is a toxic air pollutant that can increase the risk of cancer even at very low levels. Levels of chromium 6 detected during the ARB’s chromium monitoring program conducted in December, 2001 were up to 28 times higher than typical levels detected in large urban areas. The samples were collected at six residential locations within 200 feet of the facilities. The highest levels were found in the front and back of the Martinez family residence, located next door to Master Plating.

Barrio Logan is plagued by mixed land-use zoning that allows polluting industries to be located near and even next to residences and schools. Residents have long asserted that the chrome-plating operations located in their neighborhood posed serious health risks. For the past 20 years, EHC has worked with Barrio Logan residents to address problems created by polluting industries allowed to operate in residential neighborhoods.

"We’re pleased that the City of San Diego recently acknowledged the need for a new community plan in Barrio Logan. There are dozens of facilities like Master Plating in these residential neighborhoods, and the health of local residents can’t wait for problems to be addressed one by one every ten years," Forbis said. "This problem must be addressed from a broader perspective, and we are hopeful that the closure of Master Plating is the kickoff to this process."

It's an ironic shame that a company that strives for high quality work and satisified customers would also endanger the very community they work in. Chromium 6 is a very nasty toxin. The heartening news out of this is the success of an aroused and informed community asserting their rights to live without danger of exposure to carcinogens.

Thanks for sharing this, Skipper.