Lineage Logistics met a deadline Tuesday to respond to South Coast Air Quality Management District regulators with a plan on how the company will implement additional odor-control measures at its fire-ravaged cold-storage warehouse in Boyle Heights.
The removal of tons of rotting food from the warehouse has continued since the eight-day blaze broke out over a month ago and air quality violations have piled up.
As summer temperatures soar, neighbors have complained of disgusting odors from the decomposing food, while rats and flies have been drawn to the destroyed facility on Los Palos Street.
“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 District announced 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 agency last week, and the agency has issued six violation notices 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,” agency officials said.
The AQMD received a response from Lineage at 5 p.m. Tuesday “and is currently evaluating the document,” agency spokesperson Rainbow Yeung said via email. “We are engaged in discussions with the facility and will share any information that can be made public when appropriate.”
Los Angeles City Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado, who represents Boyle Heights, has made it clear that current odor-control measures are not adequate to protect the area.
“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,” Jurado said in a statement. “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 the corrective action plan should include written documentation that details odor- and pest-control efforts and how the plan’s effectiveness will be measured. She also requested information on the number of truckloads removed and how much of the facility has been dismantled.
Over 85 million pounds of food were in the warehouse and must be removed in the wake of the fire.
According to the AQMD, state health and safety rules “prohibit emissions that cause injury, nuisance or annoyance to a significant number of people or the public.”
The violation notices can escalate to civil penalties or a lawsuit if no settlement materializes.
On Tuesday, Breathe Southern California announced an anonymous donor has committed $500,000 to help recovery efforts for families in Boyle Heights and surrounding communities affected by the warehouse fire and its foul aftermath.
The nonprofit is seeking to match the donation with another $500,000 by Sept. 4, totaling $1 million for clean-air resources, protective equipment, community outreach, education and recovery assistance.
Breathe Southern California has distributed more than 2,000 air purifiers and 500 masks to residents in the affected area since the June 17 fire, according to the organization.
On Friday, Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis, whose 1st 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 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,” Solis said in a statement. “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.”
The supervisor said most residents indicated they want to remain in their homes during cleanup work.
“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.”
According to Solis, Lineage reported that the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power would help Boyle Heights residents with electricity costs. She said she later worked with Southern California Edison to secure utility bill assistance for the Union Pacific neighborhood in East LA.
Residents seeking such help can call 800-250-7339 Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents and small businesses in need of assistance can also call 211 or go online to recovery.lacounty.gov/eastla for information about resources and services.
Crews continue removing food and other debris from the destroyed warehouse. According to the latest figures that Lineage released Monday, 1,506 tons of food waste and 1,807 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 Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
The rotting food is being trucked 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 started June 17 at the cold-storage facility located at 1400 S. Los Palos St. The blaze sent thick smoke billowing into the air, prompting officials to warn nearby residents to stay inside. The city, county and state issued local emergency declarations.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but Lineage representatives believe it started when a subcontractor for Altus Power, which owns rooftop solar equipment, was doing a system test. Altus has said the company’s primary concern remains for the surrounding community.