Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Southeast L.A. County Smells Like Rotten Eggs
Santa Fe Springs stinks! Literally.
On Monday the Air Quality Management District confirmed that non-toxic hydrogen sulfide gasses from Ridgeland Energy Services was the cause of the smell. Residents of Santa Fe Springs, Norwalk, Whittier and Pico Rivera complained of smelling ammonia, rotten eggs and gas.
Whittier Daily News compiled residents' Twitter reactions. Some of the best ones:
Support for LAist comes from
Ridgeline Energy Services processes non-hazardous industrial water waste before it hits the sewage lines.
According to ABC 7:
In a statement the city said the odor comes from a former oil refinery located on Lakeland Road. The removal of wastewater tanks has aggravated the situation, according to the city. Water in the tanks has remained untreated and has not been discharged, changing the chemical composition inside to produce strong sulfur odor. The city said the marine layer outside exacerbated the problem by preventing the smell from dissipating in the air as normal. The city said the smell is due to one remaining un-repaired tank. The repair of that tank was expected to be completed "over the next few days."
The smells then were caused by a leak in Tank 63 at the refinery, according to Fire Chief Mike Crook. There are remnants of hydrogen sulfide and when they mixed with the treated water, it came to the top, Crook said.
“We found the roof of the tank was compromised,” he said. “It had holes.” There was another leak on Aug. 14 and 15, according to AQMD.
The AQMD hearing board on Aug. 20 voted to allow Ridgeline to continue operating, although it imposed 14 conditions, including repairing the hole in Tank 63. The company also was ordered to repair holes in Tank 55 and Tank 37.
A progress report already was scheduled on Wednesday.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago. -
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
Best of LAist