Air-Quality Panel Orders GM Plant to Abate Odors

Air-quality officials Wednesday issued an order requiring General Motors to eliminate paint odors emanating from its Van Nuys auto assembly plant and increasing penalties for any future violations of odor regulations.

After a two-day public hearing, the South Coast Air Quality Management District hearing board voted 3-2 to approve the abatement order negotiated by lawyers for the auto maker and the air district.

The order gives G M until Nov. 1 to complete interim odor-control measures, including the raising of vent stacks on the roof of the plant at 8000 Van Nuys Blvd. to better disperse paint fumes. Under the order, if the interim steps are not completely effective, the company will have until Nov. 15 to submit plans outlining further corrective measures.

Many residents north of the giant plant say they have been plagued intermittently by odors from auto painting at G M for several years. G M officials had promised the neighborhood that the odor problem would be corrected in late August, when the plant converted to a new painting system.

14 Violation Notices

But residents said the fumes became markedly worse with the change. And, during the past five weeks, air-district officials have issued 14 notices of violation to G M, all connected with the new painting system.

Each violation is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000. Under terms of the abatement order, however, the maximum penalty for future violations will be $6,000.

A G M attorney characterized the paint fumes as “a start-up problem” that the company is well on its way to correcting.

Jim Birakos, deputy executive officer with the air district, said the agency is satisfied with the order. “We think this is as strict as one can get short of shutting down the facility,” Birakos said.

Voting against the agreement were hearing board Chairman Coralie Kupfer and Jack C. Dutton, vice chairman. Kupfer said she does not believe the board can legally issue an abatement order that allows auto painting to continue while G M works to eliminate the smell.