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Chester Street Block Club Association News Release
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Community and Greenaction Denounce Air District States Yeast Plant Flunks Key Air Quality Tests Residents, Elected Officials Demand Permit Denial for Toxic Polluter as Odor Complaints Continue West Oakland, CA - Residents, community groups, and elected officials demanded at a press conference today that the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) deny a new permit to West Oakland's top industrial polluter, the Red Star Yeast/Lesaffre Yeast Corporation. Residents are extremely frustrated by the inaction of the BAAQMD on this issue. "I know of plenty of simple violations on small properties that are targeted, and yet Red Star Yeast can continue to stink up the air, fail tests, and not meet state regulations, and the factory still runs. Where is the justice for the little guy?" said West Oakland resident Monsa Nitoto. Renee Morrison, who lives just steps away from the plant, concurs. "It's criminal that the Air District allows factories that it says are breaking the law to pollute communities of color that have already been heavily impacted by toxic chemicals." Red Star Yeast/Lesaffre's facility is one of the largest fixed sources of toxic air pollution in Oakland. For decades, the District allowed Red Star to operate under an exemption for food processors. Recently, the Air District officially revoked the food processor exemption and told Red Star in a letter that it must meet more stringent requirements, which means Red Star is also now in violation of its current permit and proposed future requirements. The company, which is fighting to renew its Clean Air Act air pollution permit, has just recently conducted key air pollution tests, which, according to the District, indicate that the facility cannot meet these stringent requirements. The Air District's failure to enforce compliance with the more stringent limits results in the emission of illegal amounts of pollution into the West Oakland community. Instead of denying the new permit based on the failed emissions tests and citizen odor complaints, the Air District is improperly allowing the company to operate until June 2003 without a decision on the application for a new permit. Councilmember Nadel and others call for the BAAQMD to do its job. "We are as full of promises and excuses from the company and the regulators as we are of toxics and we are sickened by it." Nadel said, "It is past time to make protection of the health of our citizens the highest priority. When a company cannot meet its permit requirements, it should not be allowed to continue operating." |