Local News in Brief : Unocal Fined for Noxious Leak

Unocal Corp. has been cited for releasing hydrogen sulfide from its Wilmington refinery early in the morning April 6, but air quality officials said they have not determined whether the refinery was also the source of a toxic cloud that disturbed much of the South Bay later that morning.

Unocal faces a fine of up to $25,000 for the release of the noxious chemical after a mechanical breakdown. The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued the nuisance citation after about 30 residents complained about the odor, district spokesman Tom Eichhorn said.

Later the same morning, more than 1,000 residents from Torrance, Redondo Beach, Lomita, Wilmington and parts of the Palos Verdes Peninsula complained about a foul-smelling cloud. Nine people were hospitalized.

AQMD inspectors said they suspect, but have not proved, that the cloud may have been released after a second refinery malfunction about 8 a.m. Unocal officials denied responsibility.