GM Given More Time to Cut Paint-Odor Emissions at Van Nuys Plant

An air-quality panel Wednesday approved an agreement giving General Motors more time to eliminate paint odors emitted by its auto assembly plant in Van Nuys.

By a 4-1 vote, the South Coast Air Quality Management District hearing board ordered GM to implement a series of odor control measures within specific deadlines negotiated by GM and the air-district staff. The action followed a public hearing at air-district headquarters in El Monte that began Nov. 20 and extended over six days.

GM’s switch to a new and smellier painting process in August led to bitter complaints from some residents downwind and prompted the air district to issue odor violation notices on 21 separate days.

The order approved Wednesday requires GM to continue changing the chemical makeup of its paints to eliminate the smelliest ingredients. Some of the coatings will have to be reformulated before the end of this month, while others must be changed by April.

Under terms of the settlement, GM also must change its method of painting engine compartments to reduce the amount of paint used, and must establish an inspection and maintenance program to reduce odors from a key paint oven.

The order also requires GM to submit a report by the end of February on “the potential health effects (or lack thereof) of plant emissions in the affected neighborhood.”

Some residents have complained of nausea and headaches from the paint smell, although GM and public health officials have said the levels of airborne toxic substances near the plant are too low to pose a long-term threat to health.

The order modifies an Oct. 2 hearing board directive that approved an agreement on corrective measures worked out between GM and the air-district staff. That order provided for the Nov. 20 hearing to determine the effectiveness of the corrective measures.

Testimony in the second hearing indicated that paint odors in the neighborhood had been reduced in frequency and intensity, but that some residents still were bothered on occasion by odors.

General Motors officials say the company has spent $17.5 million on odor control since last summer at the plant at 8000 Van Nuys Blvd., where the company makes Pontiac Firebirds and Chevrolet Camaros. Most of the money was spent to extend rooftop vent stacks and to install incinerators on some drying ovens to burn paint fumes.

Hearing board chairwoman Coralie Kupfer cast the only vote against the modified order Wednesday. She criticized the agreement for its lack of a specific admission by GM that it has been guilty of odor violations.

GM could face misdemeanor charges stemming from the 21 odor citations issued by the air district.