The suit accuses AQMD, which declined to comment, of violating state law by exempting smaller facilities from fence-line monitoring.
An environmental advocacy group has accused Southern California’s regional air-quality watchdog of not properly enforcing a state law that requires petroleum refineries to install air-quality monitoring systems around their perimeters, according to a recently filed lawsuit.
“Time and again, the South Coast Air District has let refineries off the hook for their dangerous emissions and denied frontline communities even the most basic information about the toxic pollutants they breathe every day,” Earthjustice senior attorney Oscar Espino-Padron, who filed the petition, said in an emailed statement. “It’s time for the Air District to end unlawful exemptions and provide frontline communities with vital information they need to protect their health and safety.
Besides Tosco, Torrance refinery and Chevron El Segundo are among the Southern California petroleum refineries that have fence-line monitoring systems. Among the refineries that produce fewer than 40,000 gallons a day are Paramount Petroleum, Valero Wilmington Asphalt Refinery and World Oil, in South Gate. Those refineries, which the lawsuit mentioned as examples of smaller facilities, did not return requests for comment.
“The amendment has languished in the Rule Forecasts,” the lawsuit added, “and the Air District has never even placed the amendment on an agenda.” Earthjustice’s complaint, though, also draws a parallel to a similar lawsuit filed against the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District in 2020.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Forecasters predict more rain this week across southlandPart of a new wave of storms expected this week, the National Weather Service predicts rain could begin falling in San Diego County Monday night and continue into Tuesday morning.
Read more »
Governors State program sends teachers to Southland schools to engage parents through ESL classesAkiko Ota, who directs the English Language Learning Center at GSU, said when parents find the help accessible, it “lowers the fear of interacting” at their kids’ schools, leading to more engagement for both them and their children.
Read more »
Another major storm expected to hit waterlogged Northern California and the Southland, raising fearsForecasters are warning Californians to brace for another storm starting Wednesday: 'It's going to be a challenging couple of days.'
Read more »
More rain expected for Southern CaliforniaRain is set to move into the area Tuesday morning, according to Southland forecasters, a day after the skies cleared for the annual Rose Parade and Rose Bowl game in Pasadena.
Read more »
Skiers, snowboarders hit Mountain High slopes as snow falls in SoCalMountain High sold out on lift tickets both Monday and Tuesday, expecting much of the same as a massive storm heads towards the Southland in coming days.
Read more »
Kaleidoscope Watch Order: Netflix Reveals Four Ways to Watch New SeriesWhoever is responsible for running Netflix's Twitter account says that they have come up with 'a [...]
Read more »