Oakland Tribune

Thursday, May 23rd, 2002

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Residents demand shutdown of plant

Yeast factory toxic, West Oaklanders claim

By Cecily Burt
Staff Writer

OAKLAND -- The Bay Area's toxic regulators were no match Monday night for a frustrated West Oakland crowd with only one thing on its mind: How to close down the smelly Red Star Yeast factory, a century-old company they say is poisoning their community.

Representatives from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency called the meeting with West Oakland residents to discuss Red Star's application to renew its five-year Title V operating permit. The permit is required under the federal Clean Air Act because the company releases large quantities of acetaldehyde, a probable cancer-causing substance and by-product of yeast production. The permit outlines the federal, state and local air quality laws that apply to the plant. It outlines the records the company must keep to ensure compliance with the laws.

According to regulators, Red Star is in compliance. Karl Curda, company safety manager, said Red Star has reduced its emissions from 27 tons in the late 1980s to 12 tons last year, and would continue to make reductions.

But neighbors who worry about cancer, asthma and other diseases from Red Star and other sources, as well as put up with noxious odors from the plant, said the standards need to be changed. They had little patience for the meeting agenda, which included general information about permits and emissions, and how to frame an "effective public comment." Renee Morrison of the Chester Street Block Club Association told them to stop wasting time. "We just want to hear about Red Star Yeast ... Can you tell me my son has a 1 in 1 million chance of getting cancer? Can you tell me he won't get cancer?"

The crowd grew even more agitated after Stefanie Parrott, a West Oakland real estate agent, asked point blank whether the community could do something to block the permit. "No, nothing you can do," said Steve Hill, manager of the air district's permit section. "It can be denied only if the facility cannot comply with applicable requirements. ... They are in compliance as far as we know ... to change the standards you have to petition (lawmakers)."

The century-old factory is at 1384 5th St. in West Oakland. It was sold to the Lesaffre Yeast Corp., a French company, in February 2001, and is one of only seven yeast plants operating in the United States. Air district officials said the company produces 15 to 16 tons of toxic air emissions each year in the form of acetaldehyde -- 5 percent of the total toxic air emissions in all of Alameda County. According to the air district's health risk assessment, the company's emissions represent a lifetime cancer risk of 7.8 in 1 million to nearby residents, compared to a 3.6 in 1 million lifetime risk to the general Bay Area population from all sources of acetaldehyde. Eighty percent of those emissions come from cars, trucks and other mobile sources. The lifetime cancer risk from all known toxic air contaminants in the Bay Area, including acetaldehyde, is 167 in 1 million.

But residents say the cancer risk isn't the only problem. Asthma and other respiratory problems abound in the neighborhoods around the factory, they say. Others worried that the fruits and vegetables they grow in backyard gardens might be contaminated.

They also said air district officials are not always responsive to their complaints about odors from the plant. Jack Bean, the air district's enforcement manager, said 24 odor complaints were registered about Red Star during the past five years. He said every call is recorded, but inspectors have to come out and confirm the source of the smell to ensure the wrong company isn't blamed. Also, the inspector has to make contact with the person making the complaint. But Sharon Jackson, another manager, said at least three people had to call about a smell before an inspector is dispatched.

Brian Beveridge said there is no way the residents only called 24 times. "I called myself three times in the past week," he said. Councilmember Nancy Nadel (West Oakland-Downtown) said she is investigating a range of possibilities to bring to the city council to induce Red Star to either significantly reduce its toxic emissions, or leave. That could include new ordinances or nuisance abatement issues. "We'd like to get a higher standard of air quality by whatever means necessary," she said. "Nuisance issues are based on odors, but the real crux of the issue is carcinogens. ... We're looking at zoning or if we can offer them a package to move to another area ... just because the laws aren't strong enough doesn't mean we should sit by and do nothing."

The public comment period closes July 20. Regulators will hold a second public hearing about the permit from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. June 20 at Prescott Elementary School.