Local grassroots organization Friends of Fesler achieved a small victory at the Santa Maria Planning Commission meeting on March 20 when the commissioners decided to postpone a decision—yet again—on development of a new SA Recycling facility.
SA Recycling originally brought its application to the Planning Commission on Jan. 18, but the decision was postponed until the Feb. 15 meeting due to a property dispute.
SA Recycling, one of the largest scrap metal recyclers on the West Coast, is trying to open a new recycling center at 700 W. Fesler St. Rudy’s Auto Dismantling, which has been conducting business for more than 50 years, currently occupies this location.
According to the application, SA Recycling would accept anything from scrap metal to “dead” vehicles. The application also states the site wouldn’t conduct any materials processing, and all hazardous materials, such as mercury switches and Freon, would be removed from the site within 48 hours. The proposal also states that noise and hours of operation will not impact abutting residential zones.
Friends of Fesler originally formed in January to oppose SA Recycling and now represents many Santa Maria residents who don’t want a new recycling center.
At the March 20 meeting, more than 20 residents expressed their concerns to the Planning Commission. These concerns ranged from noise complaints, to safety, to concerns for the environment. Many residents were worried about how the recycling center would affect their families.
The proposed site is located within 300 feet of Fairlawn Elementary School. The routes children typically walk to school take them right by the proposed site.
Despite the fact that the SA Recycling application states that the proposed center would not adversely impact the community, Hazel Putney of PUEBLO said SA Recycling’s not-so-sterling reputation is a concern for residents. PUEBLO has been working with Friends of Fesler to oppose the SA application.
According to a press release from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, SA Recycling paid more than $2.93 million in 2011 to comply with air pollution laws and to settle an environmental protection lawsuit.
The suit alleged that SA Recycling violated air pollution laws when an explosion at its San Pedro facility at Terminal Island destroyed its air pollution control system in May 2007, and the company continued operating for weeks without proper equipment. Sims Hugo Neu Wes operated the company at the time of the violations.
SA Recycling agreed to install an air pollution control system to minimize emissions at its San Pedro location and two other sites in Orange and Kern counties. The company was ordered to pay an additional $260,000 to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and $430,000 to the California Department of Toxic Substances Control for investigative expenses and enforcement tools.
“We just want to make sure that if this goes through, that the Planning Commission establishes proper boundaries,” Putney said.
The Planning Commission made the decision to remove the application from the agenda until further traffic and air quality studies can be conducted.
This article appears in Mar 29 – Apr 5, 2012.