LOS ANGELES (CNS) – Lineage Logistics must respond Tuesday to South Coast Air Quality Management District regulators outlining how it will implement additional odor-control measures at its fire-ravaged Boyle Heights cold-storage warehouse.
The removal of tons of rotting food from the warehouse has continued since the eight-day fire broke out more than a month ago, while air quality violations have mounted.
With temperatures soaring, neighbors have complained of a foul odor from the decomposing food, while rats and flies have been drawn to the destroyed warehouse.
“For weeks, South Coast AQMD has worked with Lineage to provide technical recommendations and actions designed to reduce odors generated during the removal of decomposing food waste,” the South Coast Air Quality Management District announced in a news release Friday. “While Lineage has implemented some odor-reducing measures, the company has not yet incorporated several key actions requested by South Coast AQMD.”
More than 900 odor complaints were filed with the South Coast Air Quality Management District last week, and the agency has issued six notices of violation to Lineage for creating a public nuisance. Regulators also directed the company to implement more than two dozen additional odor-control measures and respond by Tuesday.
“Additionally, the letter notifies South Coast AQMD’s intent to petition its Hearing Board for further legal action,” it said.
Los Angeles City Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado, who represents Boyle Heights, has made it clear that current odor-control measures are not adequate to protect Boyle Heights.
“The current 45-day cleanup directive cannot mean 45 days of residents being unable to breathe comfortably, open their windows or allow their children to play outside. Lineage must complete the food-waste removal safely and on time, but the company also has a responsibility to protect the surrounding community every day while that work is underway,” Jurado said in a statement.
Jurado said the corrective action plan should include written documentation detailing the company’s odor- and pest-control efforts and how their effectiveness will be measured. She also requested information on the number of truckloads removed and how much of the facility has been dismantled.
More than 85 million pounds of food were stored in the warehouse and are being removed following the fire.
According to SCAQMD officials, state health and safety rules “prohibit emissions that cause injury, nuisance or annoyance to a significant number of people or the public.”
The notices of violation can lead to civil penalties, or potentially a lawsuit if no settlement is reached.
Meanwhile, Breathe Southern California announced Tuesday an anonymous donor has committed $500,000 toward recovery efforts for families affected by the fire in Boyle Heights and surrounding communities.
The nonprofit said it is seeking to match the contribution with an additional $500,000 by Sept. 4 to raise $1 million for clean-air resources, protective equipment, community outreach, education and recovery assistance.
According to the organization, it has distributed more than 2,000 air purifiers and 500 masks to residents in the affected area since the June 17 fire.
On Friday, Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis, whose First District includes the warehouse, said county public health teams canvassed more than 700 homes near the facility to assess the fire’s impact on residents and connect families with available resources.
“I directed the Department of Public Health to deploy teams to canvass the neighborhoods most affected by the Lineage Logistics warehouse fire, in addition to the continued outreach my staff has been conducting,” according to a statement from the supervisor. “On July 15 and 16, teams visited more than 700 homes closest to the incident site to document residents’ concerns, answer questions, connect families with available resources and gather the information needed to inform public health decisions, including whether additional protective measures are warranted.”
According to Solis, most residents said they want to stay in their homes during the cleanup.
“Residents emphasized the need for odor elimination, site cleanup and assurance that it is safe to remain in their community,” Solis said. “For those who requested temporary relocation assistance, connections were provided to free emergency housing resources through Airbnb.org and 211 LA. Residents also requested additional air purifiers, which were made available during each visit by offering up to three units per household, as well as portable air conditioning units and assistance with increased electricity costs.”
Solis said Lineage Logistics indicated the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power would assist Boyle Heights residents with electricity costs. She said she later worked with Southern California Edison to secure similar assistance for residents of the Union Pacific neighborhood in East Los Angeles.
Residents who wish to avail themselves of such help can call 1-800-250- 7339 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents and small businesses needing assistance can also call 211 or visit recovery.lacounty.gov/eastla for information about available resources and services.
Crews continued removing food and other debris from the fire-damaged warehouse. According to the latest figures released by Lineage, 356 tons of food waste and 835 tons of total debris have been removed from the site.
Company officials said they expect to complete the cleanup within 45 days, meeting a deadline set by Mayor Karen Bass.
The spoiled food is being transported to the Simi Valley Landfill in Ventura County, the El Sobrante Landfill in Corona and Hazmat TSDF Inc., a hazardous waste facility in Rialto.
The fire broke out June 17 at the warehouse at 1400 S. Los Palos St., sending thick smoke into the air and prompting officials to warn nearby residents to remain indoors. The city, county and state issued local emergency declarations in the days that followed.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, although Lineage officials have said they believe it started while a subcontractor for Altus Power, which owns the rooftop solar array, was testing the system. Altus Power has said its primary concern remains the surrounding community.
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