New U.S. EPA, waste handlers agreement to reduce harmful odors in Mecca, Calif. (CA)
(8/10/11) SAN FRANCISCO – Today the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency signed an agreement with Western Environmental
Inc. and Waste Reduction Technologies to eliminate potential
noxious odors that could affect surrounding communities. Western
Environmental Inc. and Waste Reduction Technologies are waste
handling, recycling and composting facilities located on the
Cabazon Reservation, near Mecca, Calif.
“Today’s agreement includes binding
commitments for the facilities to identify and eliminate the odors
that have plagued Mecca,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s
Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “Our
efforts are part of a collaboration with the Cabazon Tribe to
ensure that the facilities operate in a way that protects human
health. We are also coordinating our actions with the State of
California to respond to the concerns of the local
residents.”
The agreement supersedes EPA’s initial May 2011 order issued to address the immediate public health concerns. The new order fine tunes the initial order, and adds the threat of financial penalties if the facilities do not comply. Western Environmental Inc. and Waste Reduction Technologies are required to:
· Complete installation of an odor-control misting system
· More thoroughly identify incoming wastes for potential odors
· Measure and record the levels of potential odor-causing substances
· Implement handling measures to control any additional odors if they occur
· Only accept incoming soil and other materials consistent with the approved work plan
EPA previously prohibited Western Environmental Inc. and Waste Reduction Technologies from accepting contaminated soils, biosolids, and soy whey wastes for their strong potential to generate odors. Under EPA’s initial order, Western Environmental Inc. and Waste Reduction Technologies were required to take multiple actions to mitigate odors, stabilize soil, and control particulate matter emissions (dust) at the facilities, including:
· Reducing the height and size of existing storage piles
· Increasing the frequency of water application (using spray trucks)
· Hydroseeding untreated soil piles with a polymer coating and grass mix
· Applying a polymer coating to treated soil storage piles
· Covering compost piles containing soy whey solids with soil
The EPA Region 9’s web site has been updated to include the consent decree, work plan, and the Health and Safety Plan. It is available at http://www.epa.gov/region9/waste/enforcement/western-enviro/index.html. More information on EPA’s work in Mecca, Calif. is available at http://www.epa.gov/region9/mecca/.
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