For the second time in two days, the operators of the burned-out Lineage Logistics cold-storage warehouse in Boyle Heights were hit with an environmental violation notice due to persistent odors wafting into nearby communities, local air regulators said Tuesday.
The South Coast Air Quality Management Agency announced Monday that it had received more than 40 complaints from residents near the warehouse on Sunday due to odors emanating from the site — where more than 85 million pounds of rotting food is in the process of being removed. As a result, the agency issued a notice of violation to Lineage due to the smell.
AQMD officials said state health and safety rules “prohibit emissions that cause injury, nuisance or annoyance to a significant number of people or the public.”
The notice of violation can lead to civil penalties, or potentially a lawsuit if no settlement is reached.
According to AQMD, more than 40 complaints were received again on Monday due to odors from the warehouse, with people again reporting “rotten, sour, garbage-type odors.” After confirming the smell was coming from the warehouse, the AQMD issued a second notice of violation to Lineage on Monday.
Efforts to remove the food and other debris from the fire-damaged warehouse are continuing. The most recent figures from Lineage indicate that 356 tons of food waste have been removed from the building, with 835 tons of overall waste taken away. Lineage officials said they hope to complete debris removal from the site within 45 days, meeting a deadline imposed by Mayor Karen Bass.
Residents have been complaining loudly about impacts from the fire, most notably citing issues such as noxious odors, vermin, flies and rodents.
Hundreds of mostly angry residents packed a community town hall meeting in Boyle Heights last week, lashing out at Lineage company officials and elected leaders — including Bass — and demanding protection and compensation, including funding for temporary housing.
Lineage officials last week announced a series of community support efforts, specifically:
— vouchers for short-term hotel and rental assistance for “residents who choose to temporarily relocate during the cleanup and remediation process”;
— delivery of more air purifiers, air conditions and masks to residents, with company officials saying they have already distributed more than 600 air purifiers and 2,000 masks as part of its earlier community donation;
— provision of grocery vouchers redeemable at a Food4Less store on Olympic Boulevard;
— cash assistance provided through pre-paid cards; and
— support to assist residents with payments of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power utility bills.
The fire broke out June 17 at the warehouse at 1400 S. Los Palos St. and raged for eight days, sending a massive amount of smoke into the atmosphere and prompting warnings for nearby residents to stay inside.
The city, county and state all issued local emergency declarations in the days following the fire.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but Lineage officials have said they believe the fire started while a subcontractor working for Altus Power, which owns the solar array on top of the building, was conducting tests on the panels.
Altus Power has stated its first concern is for the community affected by the fire.