Toxic hotspot law requires Wilmington refinery to notify residents of potential cancer risk

Poster boards of facility risk assessment were displayed for public to read.
(Photo by Anabell Romero)

Air pollution agency South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) hosted a public meeting Thursday night along with Phillips 66 refinery to inform residents of a state air pollution regulation law that was violated by the Wilmington refinery.

The meeting room at Banning’s Landing was filled with community residents, environmentalist, AQMD officials and refinery workers.

The purpose of the meeting was to provide details on the possible health risk, which state law known as Assembly Bill 2588 (AB2588), requires that facilities notify nearby residents of potential effects caused by toxic air pollutants released in the air. The goal of the toxic hot spot law is to collect facility’s emissions data, identify localized impacts to determine health risks and to inform the public of such findings.

Based on the facility’s emissions and calculated risk, people living in the area would have their chances of getting cancer increased by a maximum of 23.2 chances in a million.  People who work in the area of impact would have their chances of getting cancer increased by a maximum of 6.6 chances in a million over a 46-year lifetime, according to the summary health risk noted on the public notice. 

The AB2588 law demands that notification to the public is made when facilities that emit air pollution cause a cancer risk or other health threats above certain levels, which Phillips 66 exceeded. In this case refinery officials said they mailed out two notices in English and Spanish informing residents of the public meeting.

“This is taken extremely seriously,” said refinery manager Chris Chandler. “We work very hard to get zero penalties.”

This is a facility risk map determining what parts of the neighborhood are
mostly impacted by air pollutants released by Phillips 66. 

Both AQMD and refinery officials gave a presentation on a risk assessment explaining the dangers of being exposed to emissions such as higher cancer risk, which they presented being a result of these three main compounds; diesel particulate, 1,3-butadiene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Environmental activist expressed discontent with the assessment and demanded that a better evaluation be made to determine how many cases of cancer and other related illnesses already exist amongst Wilmington and nearby neighborhoods.

“We the public had to get assemblyman and other senators to vote and approve AB2588, every refinery was against 2588, not one supported it when it went before assembly committees,” said long-time environmental activist, Jesse Marquez.

Despite public comments scheduled to the end of the meeting, many concerned residents could not help but interrupt the presenter to ask pressing questions of their findings.

“I think it’s up to us, the community, to make sure that there is a fair study and that there is no bias,” said 39-year-old Wilmington resident Arturo Gonzalez. “I think their needs to be a neutral party.”

A map was shown to illustrate the homes mostly impacted by the refinery, which includes a large part of Wilmington.

Refinery officials also took the time to briefly comment on the September 15 incident where black smoke hovered above local neighborhoods as a result of burn-off caused by a power outage, which required the refinery to shut down for a few hours.

Until this day many residents remain unclear of the incident and are oblivious on whether it had any direct health impacts on the community.

Although attendees were appreciative of officials hosting the public meeting many residents continue to be concerned of how properly the refineries are being ran and whether AQMD is doing enough to ensure that not only Phillips 66 is being monitored but also other industry in Wilmington.

Resident Angela Ingalls shared her thoughts on the meeting, watch here:

Air Quality Agency Presented a Rule to Discover What Chemicals are Used in Oil Production

Oil being pumped out on L Street and
Avalon Boulevard near homes, businesses and a
school across the street. (Photo by Anabell Romero)

Long awaited measures to control the types of chemicals used in an oil drilling technique called hydraulic fracturing were presented yesterday by the government agency, South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD).

Concerned Wilmington residents ranging from environmental activist, seniors, high school students and overall frustrated community members expressed discontent with the agency's delay in evaluating environmental and health impacts these practices have had on the neighborhood.

“This rule goes further than what any other agency is doing,” said Susan Nakamura, planning and rules manager at AQMD.

The proposed rule 1148.2 would require prior notification and reporting of chemicals used when hydraulic fracturing is conducted.  This would help determine if existing AQMD regulations adequately cover oil and gas production activities when conducting hydraulic fracturing, also commonly referred to as fracking. 

Officials of the air quality agency said when their governing board adopts this rule, reporting of these potentially dangerous chemicals used in fracking will begin 90 days after date of approval. The members of their governing board consist of supervisors and council members of Los Angeles County, Riverside County, Orange County, South Pasadena, Rolling Hill Estates and other regions.

The time frame AQMD proposed was of two years to determine what and if any chemicals in oil related production are polluting the air and affecting the health of thousands of residents.

Alicia Rivera, environmental activist and 
community organizer, addressing her concerns 
to the AQMD panel. 
(Photo by Anabell Romero)

“A two-year period is too long, it should be shorter,” said Alicia Rivera, environmental activist and community organizer from Communities for a Better Environment. “An environmental impact report should be conducted before, if not this allows expansion and drilling operations…damage has already been done for years.”

The agency responded by stating that this first step is required to move forward and that perhaps it takes less than two years.

A report by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) on risk of fracking in cities like New York found that it, “generates massive amounts of polluted wastewater that threaten the health of our drinking water supplies, rivers, streams, and groundwater.”

The report also states that, “the rapid expansion of natural gas drilling across the nation endangers human health and the environment.”

Wilmington resident and neighborhood council member, Sylvia Arredondo, asked the agency if when this process was completed how they were going to hold these companies accountable for possibly endangering the health of thousands in the community.

She suggested fining them and proposed that these companies take care of cost associated with medication for illnesses caused or aggravated by air pollution like asthma and cancer.

“We can’t negotiate way more than my agency will allow me to say,” said Nakamura.

Since the PowerPoint presentation addressed by AQMD took less than 30 minutes attendees at the meeting were given more than an hour to speak their concerns and share personal experiences of how unregulated practices by industry in Wilmington has directly impacted their lives.

“People continue dying daily,” said Maria Ramos, an elderly resident who spoke Spanish with her soft and emotional tone. “If we were rich and comfortable we wouldn’t be living here, but this is a poor community.”

Throughout the meeting residents continuously thanked AQMD for coming to Wilmington and for their efforts in adopting new rules to better control polluters in the neighborhood.

“This room should be filled,” said 39-year-old resident Arturo Gonzalez. “Rise up people!”

The agency said they were committed to creating better outreach strategies to ensure that more residents are informed of these public meetings.

Residents proposed AQMD return in six months to provide an update of this rule. Nakamura said she would address everyone’s concerns to her governing board and maybe host another meeting in six to nine months.

Click here to see an interactive graphic that simplifies what fracking is. To report complaints of air polluters in Wilmington call 1-800-CUT-SMOG (1-800-288-7664) 

(A Wilmington youth speaks out during a public meeting hosted by South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) and shares her experience of how pollution in her neighborhood has dramatically impacted her.)

USC/AQMD Health Study: The Health Effects of Air Pollution on Children

The Health Effects of Air Pollution on Children

By: Michael T. Kleinman, Ph.D.

Professsor, Department of Community and Environmental Medicine

University of California, Irvine - Fall 2000

The following study was conducted by investigators/researchers at the University of Southern California, and it reveals of the harmful effects that pollution has on children. Furthermore, it becomes an eye opener on how this issue continues to plague us to this day in Wilmington and surrounding communities. Please click here to view the entire study.

"Why Are Children More Susceptible to Air Pollution Than Adults?

In many health effects research studies, children are considered as if they were small adults. This is not really true. There are many differences between children and adults in the ways that they respond to air pollution. For example, children take in more air per unit body weight at a given level of exertion than do adults. When a child is exercising at maximum levels, such as during a soccer game or other sports event, they may take in 20 percent to 50 percent more air -- and more air pollution -- than would an adult in comparable activity.

Another important difference is that children do not necessarily respond to air pollution in the same way as adults. Adults exposed to low levels of the pollutant ozone will experience symptoms such as coughing, soreness in their chests, sore throats, and sometimes headaches. Children, on the other hand, may not feel the same symptoms, or at least they do not acknowledge them when asked by researchers. It is currently not known if children actually do not feel the symptoms or if they ignore them while preoccupied with play activities.

This probably does not mean that children are less sensitive to air pollution than adults. There are several good studies that show children to have losses in lung functions even when they don’t cough or feel discomfort. This is important because symptoms are often warning signals and can be used to trigger protective behavior. Children may not perceive these warning signals and might not reduce their activities on smoggy days.

Children also spend more time outside than adults. The average adult, except for those who work mostly outdoors, spends most of their time indoors -- at home, work, or even at the gym. Children spend more time outside, and are often outdoors during periods when air pollution is at its highest.

The typical adult spends 85 percent to 95 percent of their time indoors, while children may spend less than 80 percent of their time indoors. Children may also exert themselves harder than adults when playing outside.

Perhaps the most important difference between adults and children is that children are growing and developing. Along with their increased body size, children's lungs are growing and changing, too." (http://www.aqmd.gov/forstudents/health_effects_on_children.html#WhyChildren).

Reduce Pollution: South Coast AQMD Lawn Mower Exchange

The South Coast AQMD is conducting a Lawn Mower Exchange Program to reduce and cut down on pollution emissions from outdated, gasoline powered lawn mowers. The next and nearest exchange will be this Saturday - June 19th, in the city of Anaheim. For more information, please click on the following link: Lawn Mower Registration Page.

Below is a video of the exchange in process...

FREE Asthma Care for Harbor Area Residents

San Pedro hospital to provide free asthma care to Harbor Area residents

By Melissa Evans and Kristin S. Agostoni Staff Writer (The Daily Breeze Newspaper)

Posted: 05/13/2010 04:35:01 PM PDT

Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro will provide free asthma care to residents in the Harbor Area thanks to a grant from the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

Funded with money from a settlement between the AQMD and the BP Carson refinery, the pulmonary health program at the medical center will conduct screenings, training and follow-up care for at least 1,000 uninsured or underinsured at-risk adults within a 10-mile radius of the refinery.

The AQMD and BP in 2005 settled a variety of air quality violations that spanned several years, including those for increased emissions and inadequate inspection and maintenance of above-ground storage tanks, AQMD spokesman Sam Atwood said. Of the $81 million settlement, $30 million was to be set aside over a 10-year period for community projects.

The hospital will work to identify people with asthmatic symptoms at health fairs and small clinics in Wilmington, Harbor City, Torrance, San Pedro, Carson, Lynwood and Gardena.

The program will provide free services through the end of the year, and officials hope the funding will continue beyond 2010. Appointments are required, but the services are free.

For an appointment and dates and locations of asthma screenings, call 310-732-6206.

- Melissa Evans and Kristin S. Agostoni

Click here for original Daily Breeze story

Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro


1300 W. 7th Street • San Pedro, California 90732 • (310) 832-331

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