The Region : GM Pays Fine to Settle Odor Complaints

General Motors has paid $45,225 to settle dozens of odor citations issued to the company’s Van Nuys auto assembly plant, officials of the South Coast Air Quality Management District said. The agreement, which involved no admission of guilt, comes six weeks after related air pollution charges were settled in a plea bargain between the auto maker and the Los Angeles city attorney’s office. Those counts and the ones settled with the air district all related to paint odors and other air quality problems at the giant auto plant. The odor problem resulted from conversion last year to a new auto painting process. GM officials say they have spent more than $17.5 million to control paint fumes at the Van Nuys plant. Odor complaints from nearby residents have fallen off sharply in recent months, and no citations have been issued since early July.