DIAMOND BAR – (INT) – A far-reaching initiative to expand the regulation of toxic air pollution from hundreds of metal-processing facilities has been announced by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD).

The offensive stems from the recent discovery of high emissions of hexavalent chromium from two facilities in Paramount.

The Air Toxics Action Plan is envisioned to be a seven-year program. The centerpiece is air monitoring costing about up to $7 million annually. It will focus on the approximately 1,100 metal processing facilities across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

Under the initiative, SCAQMD will systematically identify and prioritize high-risk facilities, and then use the latest air monitoring technology to confirm specific sources causing high emissions.

If high-risk facilities are identified, SCAQMD will take actions to ensure these facilities to immediately reduce their emissions to a level that does not pose a threat to public health.

Story Date: April 9, 2017