Councilmember Agran: Step Up Your Legal Game, Irvine!
Councilmember Larry Agran is calling on the City to fortify its legal posture against All American Asphalt and step up its legal game!
Since 2019, the All American Asphalt plant (AAA) has received seven Notice of Violations (NOVs) for public nuisance from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD). This past week, Irvine residents experienced an especially-high spike in noxious odors traced to the site, including 14 odor complaints alone on January 13, which led South Coast AQMD to issue AAA two recent NOVs. According to the regulatory agency, the odors are confirmed and traced back to the asphalt facility.
Chronically subjecting our community to these odors has created a public health crisis. Studies indicate that, in addition to odors, the asphalt manufacturing plant’s operations emit benzene, formaldehyde, and other carcinogenic chemicals into the air we breathe. According to Councilmember Agran, “These recent major incidents underscore the urgency in providing immediate relief to protect the entire Irvine community.”
“These recent major incidents underscore the urgency in providing immediate relief to protect the entire Irvine community,” says Councilmember Agran.
In a memo released today, Councilmember Agran asked that the City authorize legal resources and a stronger legal position to protect our residents’ health. He asked that the Council:
Publicly present the status of all litigation against All American Asphalt
Seek an injunction to shut down the plant and abate emissions through the Council’s directives
Retain Special Counsel to help the City prosecute its public nuisance lawsuit
“I’m proposing this item so my colleagues and I can continue to work on this complex legal issue and effectively address the ongoing health crisis our residents are experiencing.” - Larry Agran