Sun Valley Energy Plant’s Odors Assailed

Complaining of stinging eyes and upset stomachs, a dozen witnesses Tuesday implored an air-quality hearing board to halt foul odors allegedly coming from a methane gas-to-energy plant at the Penrose Pit landfill in Sun Valley.

Staff officials with the South Coast Air Quality Management District joined the plant’s neighbors in calling on the board to shut down the plant until its owner, Pacific Lighting Energy Systems, solves the odor problem.

No decision was reached by the board, which will begin hearing technical testimony when the hearing resumes Friday.

But, in a victory for the neighbors, the five-member panel unanimously denied Pacific Lighting’s request to delay the hearing until early December. Sharon Rubalcava, attorney for Pacific Lighting, said the company “is committed to correcting any odor problems that are caused by their facility as soon as possible.” She argued unsuccessfully for a continuance until company consultants can determine “what control measures would be effective.”

Plant Cited 23 Times

Air district inspectors have cited the power plant and inactive landfill for odor violations on 23 occasions in the last three months. In addition, the landfill’s owner, L.A. By-Products Co., has twice been cited for excessive emissions of methane gas from the surface of the dump at 8301 Tujunga Ave. Each violation notice is punishable by a penalty of up to $1,000.

The air district also petitioned the hearing board for an odor abatement order, prompting Tuesday’s hearing at air-district headquarters in El Monte.

About 10 months ago, Pacific Lighting, a subsidiary of giant Pacific Lighting Corp., began producing electricity at the landfill by burning gas emitted by decaying trash.

In recent weeks, the air district has received odor complaints from 40 people, almost all of whom work for two companies next to the landfill that run van pool programs for the elderly and handicapped.

Workers Resign Over Odors

Glenda Ciotti, community relations officer for Transit Contractors, one of the dial-a-ride firms, said the smell is like “rotten eggs and garbage” and has caused three workers to quit. She told the board that one pregnant employee “is considering leaving” out of concern for her health and her baby’s.

Air-district lawyer Peter Greenwald told the board that the landfill itself no longer appears to be part of the problem, thanks to improved maintenance of earth cover.

But Greenwald said the power plant still is emitting “some of the strongest odors that we have detected” near a landfill.

Greenwald said that, if the power plant were ordered closed, five flares that previously were used to burn off landfill gas could be fired up again.

But Lawrence Meyer, attorney for L.A. By-Products, said the company will oppose closing of the power plant.

“We don’t know whether the flares would be of sufficient capacity to control the emission” of gas, Meyer said. He said L.A. By-Products fears that it would be cited for “continuous violations” of methane emission limits without the power plant running.