| July 25, 2008 Responding
to continuing nuisance odor violations at a metal foundry in El Monte, the
region’s air quality agency is seeking a legal order requiring the facility
to comply with all air quality regulations.
“Gregg Industries continues to be a source of strong, objectionable odors
in an environmental justice community,” said Barry Wallerstein, executive
officer of the South Coast Air Quality Management District. “We are frankly
disappointed that in spite of our working intensively with Gregg Industries
representatives for more than two years they still have not fixed the
problem.”
Since last September AQMD has received 165 complaints of foul odors
causing a public nuisance and has issued three public nuisance violations to
the facility. AQMD issues public nuisance violations only in instances
where a considerable number of persons complain about a foul odor; a trained
AQMD field inspector verifies the odor at the complainant’s home or
business, and the inspector traces the same odor from the community to its
source.
AQMD has attempted to work with Gregg Industries (Gregg) to agree on
measures that would eliminate odors causing public nuisances. In addition
AQMD this spring proposed that Gregg hire an outside consultant to recommend
a solution to the odor problem. The company refused AQMD’s proposal.
Since Gregg has not proposed appropriate measures to eliminate nuisance
odors, AQMD has petitioned its Hearing Board for an order for abatement that
will be heard early next month. The order would require Gregg to cease
violating air quality regulations including those prohibiting odors that
create a public nuisance. AQMD’s Hearing Board is a five-member
quasi-judicial body with the authority to issue abatement orders compelling
facilities to follow specific measures to comply with local air quality
regulations.
This morning, hundreds of Gregg employees and supporters plan to stage a
demonstration at AQMD’s headquarters in Diamond Bar to criticize the agency
for its enforcement actions aimed at reducing foul odors at Gregg.
A History of Odor Problems
AQMD started receiving a significant number of complaints from El Monte
residents in 2005 alleging Gregg as the source of foul odors. Gregg,
located at 10460 Hickson St., operates a sand-mold and iron-casting foundry
to cast metal parts primarily for the automotive industry. Phenolic resins
used to form sand molds are a likely cause of burnt-plastic odors while
off-gassing from cooling molds may be causing burnt-metal odors.
In February 2006, based on numerous odor complaints, AQMD sought and
obtained an order for abatement from the AQMD Hearing Board to eliminate
odors from the plant. The Hearing Board conducted several additional
hearings throughout 2006 and the first half of 2007 to monitor Gregg’s
progress. Although some odors diminished and the abatement order was lifted
in September 2007, AQMD received about 350 odor complaints during the
18-month duration of the order.
In March, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC)
and AQMD both issued violation notices to Gregg after DTSC field inspectors
were forced to flee a cloud of toxic metal dust released in the facility.
AQMD also has issued violations to Gregg for missing deadlines to submit
health risk assessments and air pollution monitoring reports; for operating
equipment without first obtaining the required permits, and violating
conditions of the previous order for abatement.
“Every community has the right to breathe clean air that is free of
odors,” Wallerstein said. “We are committed to taking any and all steps
necessary to end the air pollution problem at Gregg Industries.”
AQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major
portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
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