Westside companies cited for pollution

Deirdre Newman

Five industrial property owners in an area of the Westside that the

city is considering adding to the downtown redevelopment zone

violated air quality rules within a one-year period ending in May.

From July 2002 to May 2003, a total of nine companies within the

area received Notices of Violation that could have penalties of up to

$50,000 per day. The five industrial properties are Pinecraft Custom

Shutters, Tiamo Motorcars, Normandy Newport, Kuster Quality Cleaners

and Mourey Cleaners.

City leaders requested specific information about the companies

after the South Coast Air Quality Management District gave a

presentation in September on air quality in the Westside citing some

problems.

On Monday, the City Council, acting as the Redevelopment Agency,

will consider adding 434-acres to the downtown redevelopment area in

order to intensively examine the area for blight.

Industrial property owners have been accused of spewing toxic

chemicals into the air and causing myriad health problems. John

Hawley, one of the leading advocates for improving the area without

redevelopment, said he felt vindicated by the latest air quality

information.

“What is important, and what this shows, is the scrutiny companies

are under,” said Hawley, who owns Railmakers, a company that makes

stainless steel hardware for boats. “Companies large and small are

inspected. The larger ones are under greater scrutiny and if they do

mess up, it can cost [them] up to $50,000 a day. It’s financially

impossible to be a major polluter because these rules are so strict.”

In March, the Redevelopment Agency postponed for six months any

decision on adding territory to the redevelopment zone. Monday, it

will tackle the issue again with new information from an economic

study of a commercial area that runs along 19th Street east of

Monrovia Avenue and the Community Redevelopment Action Committee’s

vision and goals for the Westside.

The more severe Notices of Violations are issued when companies

fail to comply with an Air Quality Management District rule or permit

or a state air pollution regulation. Within the proposed added

territory, in addition to the industrial property violations,

7-Eleven and the closed Superior Texaco both received two notices.

Sixteen companies within the proposed added territory received

minor violations for things like administrative or procedural

infractions or a small amount of emissions increases.

Tiamo Motorcars and MacGregor Yachts both received two minor

citations. Roger MacGregor, the owner of MacGregor Yachts, said one

was just to request proof that the company would be able to comply

with new more stringent rules that require emissions to be reduced by

almost half starting in January. The other was to request the company

use acetone instead of a conventional paint thinner, which it did,

MacGregor said.

Hawley and MacGregor are both part of the Westside Revitalization

Assn., which is working in concert with the city’s objective to

eradicate blight in the Westside area without the black cloud of

eminent domain hovering over their heads. The city could exercise its

right to eminent domain for whatever area it decides to add to the

downtown redevelopment zone.

Association members have been working diligently to improve their

properties over the past five months. And it’s working, both men

said.

Mayor Gary Monahan agrees.

“All the arguments that all this poison is in the air is Chicken

Little stuff,” Monahan said. “The sky is not falling. The Westside is

in good shape and getting better and if we work with prop owners, it

will continue to get better.”

Westside activist Eleanor Egan has also been working to help

control odors from the industrial properties. After conducting some

online research, Egan came across a company that makes equipment that

neutralizes odors and can be used for any size company.

After meeting with a few property owners, Egan heard from Martin

Pickett, who owns Cla-Val, a large industrial company in the area.

Pickett expressed interest in testing the equipment and should be

getting the equipment soon, Egan said. Pickett was not available for

comment.

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa and may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at [email protected].