BAAQMD & LEA response to recent odors

Below is the written response from BAAQMD & LEA regarding the recent increase of odor:

BAAQMD : “We have also been investigating what source(s) may be contributing to the odor spike the last few evenings. Our Inspector was in Milpitas in the evenings this week and observed some trailers at the MRF that were overfilled and contributing to localized odors at the facility. Jay took pictures of the untarped trailers and I can ask him to forward the pictures he took. Regarding the CASP, I will need to check in with our staff to see if there were compliance concerns and get back to you. They also conducted patrols at ZWED and the wastewaster treatment facility but didn’t observe odors from those facilities. “

LEA : “The mild odor we could detect we thought was most likely compost and it was in the afternoon (approximately 2:30 – 3:30 PM). We made this determination based on what direction the prevailing winds were coming from (NW) and where we could detect the odor (SE Milpitas) which is downwind from the compost operations. “

Summary from July 18 South Bay Odor Stakeholders Group meeting

1. BAAQMD will award the contract for South Bay Odor Study at its July 31st board meeting. The study is projected to cost $300-500k. Reps from odor generating facilities were present and supportive of the study.

2. City of Milpitas has hired a consultant to implement odor monitors.

3. BAAQMD logged 162 odor complaints in the last 3 months. Newby Island was the sole confirmed odor source. BAAQMD has issued 16 violations to Newby Island in 2019 YTD.

4. LEA received many complaints on its website. Inspector detected Newby Island MRF and landfill odor. CalRecycle-LEA issued a violation to Newby Island for not covering the working landfill at night.

5. Newby Island MRF redesign is in progress with construction to be completed by 2021.

Official meeting minutes can be found on 
http://sbosg.info/archives/