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.)

Residents Voice Their Concerns at Wilmington Town Hall Meeting

Councilman Joe Buscaino speaking at town
hall meeting in Wilmington February 13.
(Photo by Anabell Romero)

A small but engaged group of residents attended last night’s town hall meeting with Councilman Joe Buscaino at Banning High School’s auditorium. He spoke of his accomplishments during his first year in office and shared a 10 minute video detailing all his work for the 15th district in Los Angeles, which includes Harbor City, Harbor Gateway, San Pedro, Watts and Wilmington.

Because there was such low attendance almost every attendee was given an opportunity to voice their concerns about ongoing problems in the neighborhood like, crime, violence, overwhelming amount of liquor stores in comparison to resourceful centers, poor air quality and illegal dumping.

Community leaders like Salvador Lara who has mobilized hundreds of residents in an effort to clean-up Wilmington spoke out against illegal dumping in the neighborhood and demanded these people get fined as well as more oversight from law enforcement and residents.

Salvador Lara that people get fined for illegal
dumping in Wilmington.
(Photo by Anabell Romero)

Members of the environmental activism group Clean Up Green Up, pleaded for Buscaino’s support to make LA communities healthier through the establishment of green zones in Wilmington. On the spot Buscaino said he supported the initiative.

When a youth got up and asked for Buscaino to support their group Youth Action and the California Youth Bill of Rights, Buscaino said, “anything to mobilize our youth and I’m with you!”

Buscaino made references to when he was a police officer and patrolled areas like downtown LA when it was a hotspot for crime and now has been transformed into L.A. Live, the entertainment complex that has helped revitalize the city.

“We want the same economic development here,” said Buscaino.

He did acknowledge that more work needs to be done to make Wilmington a safer and healthier community and he committed to doing so if re-elected during the LA city elections March 5, where angelenos will also elect a new city mayor.  

He emphasized on creating more jobs, local economic development and making neighborhoods safer.  

Here's a video highlighting some of Buscaino's accomplishments during his first year in office.

Member-at-Large Elections for the Wilmington Neighborhood Council this Saturday

This Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. community members, residents, property owners, stakeholders, workers, worshipers, people who have any connection to Wilmington will have the opportunity to vote for the Member-at-Large of their choice to fill the three open seats for a two-year term on the Wilmington Neighborhood Council (WNC).

Elections will be held at the Wilmington Senior Citizen Center, 1371 Eubank Ave. Voters must be at least 16 years of age and might have to provide identification. If you are undocumented or a permanent resident you still qualify to vote.

The council is also looking for volunteers to help at the polls. Community service hours for school can also be granted for volunteering. If you're interested in engaging in local politics and lend a hand this Saturday contact WNC Chair, Cecilia Moreno, at cmoreno@portla.org or call her at (310) 732-7659.  

Here's information on each candidate.

Sylvia Arredondo

Anthony Quezada

No photo by Anthony Quezada was provided.

I am eager to become a member of the Wilmington Neighborhood Council governing board, so that I can use my affiliation with Amvet Post 33, as well as my relationships with Congresswoman Janice Hahn and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to support and assist the people of Wilmington. My intention is to focus on the needs of veterans, senior veterans and their families with all the resources at my disposal.

(This is a statement Quezada provided to the WNC in his candidate filing form.)







Gladys Padilla

Gladys Padilla is a young Latina passionate about engaging youth, empowering women and building stronger communities in Wilmington. She was born to parents who immigrated from Mexico to the U.S. They taught her the values of resilience, perseverance, and honesty. She is a first generation university graduate with a bachelor’s degree in political science and was nominated as 2009 New Progressive Leader in Washington, DC.


Her work experience ranges from being a volunteer at a Rape Crisis Center, answering 24hr-hotline calls and advocating for survivors during SART exams, to living in Washington, DC and working for Center for American Progress in their Ethnic Media department, developing press releases on topics of healthcare and immigration. Currently she works at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center providing social case management services to patients who are living with HIV.
In 2009, she co-founded an unofficial organization Wilmington Enrichment Community Artist Network (W.E.C.A.N.), which celebrates local artists at local venues. This year, she and a small group of residents in Wilmington, organized the 2012 First Annual Wilmington Women’s Month. She was recently asked by Congresswoman Hahn to be in her Women’s Advisory Board. She is moved by her values of equality and social justice. She is determined to make change and help create opportunities for future generations.

Anabell Romero

Anabell Romero is an aspiring journalist who grew up in Wilmington and returned home after graduating from UC Santa Cruz. She is currently a graduate student at USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism. She is very committed to her community and hopes to bring positive change. Since 2009 she has been Member at Large of the Wilmington Neighborhood Council and hopes to continue to serve as an active member. She also helped create The Wilmington Wire, a cooperative blog for the community. In addition to graduate school, she works for The California Endowment Health Journalism Fellowships as Program Coordinator. She has a fondness for informing people about issues that directly impact their community’s infrastructure. 

She also served as a Wilmington community correspondent blogger for the San Francisco National Public Radio Station, KQED, where she covered public health issues in the neighborhood. Recently she began an internship with Univision-KMEX34 where she will cover stories on Latinos in Los Angeles for their website. Her passion is driven by the fact that she grew up in a largely Latino neighborhood that continues to be faced with many issues that deplete the quality of life for its residents. Her goal is to trigger dialogue about community issues to help empower residents to bring positive change to Wilmington. 

(Disclosure: Anabell Romero is the author of this post, but as a commitment to remain objective the Wilmington Wire's goal is to provide the community with information and allow readers to make their own choices.)