The South Coast Air Quality Management District today filed a petition for an administrative order requiring Carlton Forge Works in Paramount to reduce its persistent odors impacting the community.
“Although Carlton Forge Works has made some changes to its operation, it continues to be a frequent source of odors affecting the quality of life of many Paramount residents and school children,” said Wayne Nastri, SCAQMD’s Executive Officer. “We are seeking this order to facilitate curtailment of the odors as quickly as possible.”
In response to the announcement, Mayor Peggy Lemons issued the following statement:
“The City of Paramount is focused on addressing air quality in our community. The experts at AQMD are significantly increasing their efforts to address Notices of Violation from Carlton Forge with this action. Carlton Forge has been working to identify the source of the odor in cooperation with the regulators over the last several months. While it’s disappointing that we haven’t found the source of that yet, I am hopeful that AQMD and Carlton Forge will be able to resolve this matter soon. Carlton Forge has a history of success working with AQMD to address air quality concerns. We certainly hope this will continue as they mitigate the recurring odor nuisance.”
SCAQMD filed its petition for the administrative order, known as an Order for Abatement, with the independent SCAQMD Hearing Board. The Hearing Board is expected to set a date for a hearing within the next few weeks.
Since Dec. 9, 2016, SCAQMD has issued 17 Notices of Violation to Carlton Forge Works for nuisance odors, in violation of the agency’s Rule 402. SCAQMD inspectors have traced odors to the facility’s grinding room and an area near its gates 7 and 8. In addition, the agency issued a violation notice to Carlton Forge Works on May 5 for failure to monitor natural gas fuel lines as required by SCAQMD regulations.
“The City continues to work cooperatively with AQMD, and we’re glad they’re taking steps that they deem necessary to address odors from Carlton Forge Works,” said Paramount Assistant City Manager Kevin Chun. “We support AQMD’s pursuit of an Order of Abatement, as Carlton’s accumulation of 17 Notices of Violation over the last several months is unacceptable to our community. So, the City supports this AQMD enforcement action, and we will be monitoring the Hearing Board process very closely.”
Since early December 2016, SCAQMD has received more than 190 odor complaints from residents alleging Carlton Forge Works as the source of odors, including complaints from individuals at Lincoln Elementary School, located a few blocks from the facility.
In an attempt to reduce its odors, Carlton Forge Works has stopped all outdoor grinding; sealed its grinding building and installed high-efficiency filters on the grinding building exhaust. However, odors have persisted so SCAQMD will ask the Hearing Board to require the facility to take additional steps, including development of a comprehensive odor plan and evaluation of the feasibility of installing carbon scrubbers on all bag houses (used for air pollution control.)
Carlton Forge Works, located at 7743 E. Adams St. in Paramount, manufactures metal alloy rings for the aerospace, industrial and nuclear industries.
The SCAQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
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