Recent Streetsblog LA posts about Air Quality

“I’m a Teacher, I’m Pregnant…I’m Worried”: Residents Fume Over Lead Contamination of Soil in their Neighborhoods

By Sahra Sulaiman | Mar 20, 2014 | 1 Comment

“If you don’t shut it down, we’re going to shut you down!” shouted a woman dressed in hazmat gear (above, with skull on her back). She had just angrily paraded in front of the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) officials, representatives of the Department of Public Health (DPH), and the moderator with her daughter, […]

Sen. Steinberg Proposes Carbon Tax on Gas Instead of Cap-and-Trade

By Melanie Curry | Feb 21, 2014 | 8 Comments

CA Senator Darrell Steinberg proposed a change yesterday to California’s nascent cap-and-trade program that would replace next year’s cap on fuel emissions with a per-gallon carbon tax. Steinberg called it a “broader, more stable, and more flexible” way to reduce emissions from fuels than cap-and-trade. His proposal would apply the revenue raised from the tax […]

Vernon Battery Recycling Plant Sues to Overturn New Air Quality Rule

By Sahra Sulaiman | Feb 11, 2014 | 3 Comments

Exide Technologies – the embattled battery recycling facility in Vernon — has been given a lot of breaks over the years, but apparently they feel they haven’t had it easy enough. Last Friday, they filed a lawsuit in the Los Angeles Superior Court asking a judge to set aside the South Coast Air Quality Management […]

Governing Board of the AQMD Adopts Amendment Imposing Stricter Emissions Controls on Lead-Acid Battery Recyclers

By Sahra Sulaiman | Jan 10, 2014 | No Comments

“Se me murió mi señora, se me murió mi cuñado… yo no quiero que muera más gente. Esto es lo que pido de ustedes.” “I have lost my wife and my brother-in-law… I don’t want more people to die. This is what I ask of you.” The statement came from a visibly unwell Maywood resident […]

Are Oil Fields Poisoning the Air Around USC? Residents Hope for Answers at Hearing Tonight

By Sahra Sulaiman | Dec 11, 2013 | 5 Comments

Standing at the gas pump, I was overcome with a sudden wave of dizziness and a blinding headache. Because I only drive my car two or three times a year, putting gas in my tank is one of those typical LA past-times I am usually able to avoid. But on those rare occasions I do […]

The SCAQMD Hearing Board Will Receive Public Testimony on the Exide Battery Recycling Plant on December 14th. That Means You.

By Sahra Sulaiman | Dec 6, 2013 | 1 Comment

While I sympathize with any of the good people of Irwindale that may have experienced heartburn, nosebleeds, or inflamed asthma because of a stinky Sriracha factory, I do have to wonder a bit about our priorities. The last I checked, spicy-smelling air is neither fatal (egregrious asthma attacks aside) nor likely to induce neurological or […]

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