Refinery, Sewage Plant Fumes Draw Complaints

Separate releases of strong fumes drew complaints in El Segundo Monday from residents and office workers near the Chevron Oil refinery and the city of Los Angeles’ Hyperion sewage treatment plant.

Near the Hyperion plant, residents complained in the morning of respiratory troubles and eye irritation. One woman was treated at a Hawthorne medical center.

A plant inspection revealed that a scrubbing device used to remove hydrogen sulfide gases had malfunctioned, said Don Goodroe, Hyperion’s superintendent of operations. But the source of the fumes could not be pinpointed because the odor that residents said they smelled had dissipated by the time fire and air quality personnel had arrived, authorities said.

At the Chevron refinery, a leak of liquid containing foul-smelling sulfur compounds drew numerous complaints about 1:30 p.m. from residents and office employees up to a quarter-mile downwind, an El Segundo Fire Department official said. No medical help was sought.