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Shut Down the Red Star Yeast Factory! May 20th, 2002
See Also: 5/23/02 Oakland Tribune coverage of the meeting May 2002 West Oakland, CA Residents and Greenaction Demand Shut Down of Polluting Red Star Yeast Factory! Read the SF Gate Story on Environment Injustice in West Oakland!
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Community Denounces Pollution from Red Star Yeast and Government Complicity at Air District Meeting
One hundred West Oakland residents, joined by Greenaction and other allies, packed a meeting sponsored by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. The meeting was held to discuss the application by Red Star Yeast/Lesaffre Corporation to renew their Title V Clean Air Act permit. Red Star Yeast emits large amounts of cancer-causing acetaldehyde and noxious odors into the air of this low-income people of color community. In addition to the pollution from Red Star, residents are also exposed to a vinyl chloride contaminatin site, heavy diesel truck traffic and emissions and other toxic sites. Residents vocally expressed their demand that the Red Star factory be closed down, as the company is unwilling to spend the money that could dramatically reduce toxic emissions and odors. Residents, young and old, spoke of the overwhelming odors and their concerns about the cancer causing chemicals. The Air District claimed that the cancer risk from the facility was "only" 7.8 in one million - stating that this should not be a concern since one in three people are expected to get cancer anyway. Residents challenged that view, saying any more cancer is too much. In addition, the Air District failed to calculate the cumulative risk from the toxic emissions from Red Star combined with the other toxic pollution already heavily impacting this neighborhood. Air District officials at the meeting told the community that the agency's only option was to approve the permit as there were allegedly no grounds for a permit denial. Bradley Angel of Greenaction challenged the Air District's misinformation, and pointed out that there were two solid grounds for a permit denial. Greenaction demanded to know why the Air District failed to tell people that the continuing odors from Red Star were a violation of the permit. Greenation informed the community that as Red Star could not stop the odors, then they could not "assure compliance" with a new permit as required by the Clean Air Act - and thus the permit should be denied. Greenaction also pointed out that if the Air District (a recipient of federal funds) issued a new permit there would be a discriminatory and disproportionate impact on the low-income and people of color residents. Such a negative impact would be a violation of Title VI of the United States Civil Rights Act of 1964. The meeting lasted for three hours, as dozens of residents spoke out demanding answers and environmental justice. Residents, community organizations and Greenaction are vowing to escalate the fight, and are urging everyone to attend the June 20th public hearing. |