‘It Burns My Throat, It Burns My Eyes’: Residents Say Paramount Processing Plants Threaten Health
A hearing board will decide on Wednesday whether to take action against the businesses.
KPCC:
Struggling To Breathe In Paramount
Since late October, the South Coast Air Quality Management has been investigating extremely high levels of the carcinogen hexavalent chromium in Paramount. The agency has identified at least two metal processing firms that it says are responsible. On Wednesday, the air district's hearing board will consider ordering the companies to stop the operations resulting in the emissions. (Plevin, 12/14)
In other news on toxins and health —
The Desert Sun:
California's Small Water Utilities Struggle With Safety
Small public water systems across the state made up the vast majority of systems found to have high levels of lead in their drinking water or testing violations since 2010, the analysis found. These systems typically exist in rural areas and serve less than a few thousand people. Some serve only a few hundred or even a few dozen people, sometimes at a single school or business. The results are evidence that while most water utilities across the state have clean records when it comes to lead, smaller agencies with limited resources struggle more often to comply with safety protocols. Neither the state nor the small water systems have the capacity to monitor for safety of drinking water as often as larger water systems do. (Newkirk, 12/13)
Orange County Register:
Anaheim Firm Settles With EPA Over Lead Paint Violations
Anaheim-based home improvement firm Powerstar Home Energy Solutions will pay a $11,429 penalty for failing to comply with lead-based paint rules, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday. Powerstar has also agreed to spend $34,000 to purchase equipment to test blood in children. The blood lead analyzers will be donated to 10 community health clinics in San Bernardino and Orange counties. (Madans, 12/13)
KPCC:
Culver City Moves To Ban Polystyrene Food Containers
Culver City has moved a step closer to banning single-use polystyrene containers and other utensils at restaurants. The council voted unanimously to direct city staff to draft an ordinance that would prohibit restaurants, grocers and other retailers from using the kind of plastic foam cups, bowls and plates common in takeout food. It would also ban the use of polystyrene-based plastic utensils. (Frank, 12/13)