SCAQMD Holds Town Meeting Re Repeated LB-Area Odors; Agency Says It Treats Odor Incidents Seriously, Encourages Residents To Report Incidents In Real Time Via Phone And Online, Hears Public Testimony, Incl. Belmont Hts. Area Resident Who Poses Pointed Questions and Seeks Answers And Remedies
(Nov. 20, 2014) -- The South Coast Air Quality Management District held a November 18 Town Hall meeting at the Golden Sails Hotel in SE LB in the wake of continuing reports of periodic area odors along LB's shoreline and in nearby communities.
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Agency officials stressed that they treat odor complaints seriously, has sent staff into the field to investigate incidents and encouraged residents to report odor events immediately in real time via 1-800-CUTSMOG and via SCAQMD's new online Odor Response System at this link, click here.
Ed Pupka, SCAQMD Sr. Enforcement Mgr., Engineering and Compliance, indicated that a number of sources might be responsible for the LB area odors and the agency suspects some type of offshore source(s). Mr. Pupka said SCAQMD has sent investigators out to investigate previous odor incidents but noted they are transitory. He said that at this point, the agency isn't able to say with certainty exactly what source(s) are responsible. He encouraged residents to report odor events in real time via 1-800 CUTSMOG and the agency's website complaint system at this link. He said the phone line (including voice messages) and the website are monitored and retrieved promptly.
That response drew pointed testimony and questions from Belmont Heights resident Jamie Gorenberg, who said she's reported incidents previously and pressed for answers and remedies going forward.
After the meeting, Ms. Gorenberg told LBREPORT.com that SCAQMD reps spoke with her personally indicated the agency might be willing to provide her with an air sampling unit in an effort to more swiftly capture air samples when odor events occurred.
Wrigley community advocate Joan Greenwood also attended the event and in public testimony urged the agency to devote attention to WLB/Wrigley impacts of ultrafine particulates, noting that open coal cars continue to transport petroleum coke to the Port [with local officials contending its beyond their reach as federally preempted] and noted BNSF and UP RRs seek to build and enlarge (the RRs say modernize and make greener) WLB-adjacent railyard operations. An agency lawyer said legal research would be necessary to see what powers SCAQMD may have regarding the RR issue.
A representatives of Councilwoman Suzie Price's 3rd dist. Council office posed a number of questions re possible offshore odor sources.
The meeting coincided with a Tuesday Council meeting. The 7th Council district also sent a representative. as did a representative of L.A. Mayor Garcetti's office.
