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Air quality in California is managed by different regulatory agencies with different roles and responsibilities. We've gathered the information for the agencies and resources that can work with City Terrace residents regarding air quality concerns.
Provide information on community air monitoring and the state's Community Emissions Reduction Program for East Los Angeles, Ramona Gardens, City Terrace, Boyle Heights, and portions of West Commerce.
Contact: adrianna.hernandez@arb.ca.gov
Provide information on the Community Emissions Reduction Plan, air monitoring data, the dates, times and Zoom links to the Community Steering Committee and information from previous meetings.
View Calendar of upcoming community meeting
Contact: btolliver@aqmd.gov
Provide a mapping tool that helps identify California communities that are most affected by pollution, and where people are often especially vulnerable to pollution's effects.
The Eastern Hill area near City Terrace contains two closed landfills, the Blanchard and Cogen Landfills, which were operated by BKK Corporation and have been closed since 1958.
While the County never operated the landfills, after their closure the County acquired portions of the property to construct public improvements. The County acquired about four acres on the western edge of the former Cogan Landfill to construct a portion of Sheriff's Road. The County also acquired approximately 21 acres of the former Blanchard Landfill, where the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Monterey Park facilities are located on North Eastern Avenue. The remainder of the former landfills is privately owned.
The County actively manages its portion of the landfills, including the installation and operation of landfill gas control systems on the County-owned property at both landfills.
The Blanchard Landfill is owned by the County (75%) and a private entity, Bar V Bar (25%). The Cogen Landfill, uphill from the City Terrace community, is owned by two private entities, Crown Enterprises (71%) and Bar V Bar (17%), and the County (12%).
The County has been actively managing its portion of the landfills, including installation of landfill gas control systems at both landfills. Crown Enterprises also installed a landfill gas control system at Cogen Landfill, while Bar V Bar is set to have an operational landfill gas control system installed at Cogen by the end of 2023.
For more information on County actions regarding the Eastern Hill Landfill, click here: https://pw.lacounty.gov/projects/eastern-hill-landfill/
In tandem with the installation of the System, the County began an assessment of potential health risks in the City Terrace community.
As part of the initial sampling process, the County conducted community outreach to the 152 homes in the City Terrace community, seeking access for soil sampling. The outreach resulted in 29 property owners agreeing to permit subsurface soil vapor and outdoor air sampling at their properties. In August 2021, sampling was conducted at these 29 properties.
A second round of sampling was conducted in 2023 to:
DPH's findings indicated there were no landfill impacts through the soil into the community. Vehicle emissions from regional transportation are the primary source of benzene concentrations in indoor and outdoor air in the community.
Benzene is a chemical used in the production of a wide range of industrial products, including chemicals, dyes, detergents, glues, paints, rubbers, and some plastics. It is also produced from refining petroleum. It is also present in vehicle emissions, cigarette smoke and gasoline, and is produced in the combustion of wood and coal. Benzene occurs naturally from volcanoes and forest fires. Benzene can often be found in air near areas where petroleum products such as gasoline and fuel oil leak or are spilled into the ground.
1,3,5 and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene are derivatives of benzene that are naturally found in coal tar and gasoline. They are less harmful than benzene. While benzene is a known human carcinogen, 1,3,5 and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene are classified as chemicals that do not have enough information to determine if they are capable of causing cancer.
The ambient air collected as part of this study does not suggest that spending time outside of your home in this community should pose any increased risk.
This study did not sample or collect any groundwater for testing. However, it is DPHs understanding that the drinking water used in this community is supplied by approved providers and is piped in from outside of this community. There is no reason to believe that the drinking water in this community has been impacted by the chemicals detected in the soil vapor located underneath the properties.
This study did not sample or collect any groundwater for testing. However, it is DPHs understanding that all of the drinking water used in this community is supplied by approved providers and is piped in from outside of this community. There is no reason to believe that the drinking water in this community has been impacted by the chemicals detected in the soil vapor located underneath the properties.
There is no reason to suspect that the drinking water in this community has been impacted in any way by the chemicals detected in the soil vapor located underneath the properties. The water lines are all sealed and soil vapors should not be able to get in.
Soil vapor samples are collected from both the landfill and offsite locations on a monthly basis. Results are used to monitor for soil vapors that may be migrating from the Cogen Landfill.
Any air purifier that has a carbon or activated carbon filter would be capable of removing gas contaminants (such as benzene) from the air. This is also true of any HVAC filters with carbon or activated carbon built into the filter. There is no reimbursement for purchasing air purifiers.
Visit this page for additional information.
Los Angeles County Public Works, Eastern Hill Landfill Information
For more information about the next round of sampling, or if you have questions regarding health concerns, call (626) 430-9820 M-F 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., after-hours you can leave a message at (626) 430-9821 and someone will get back to you within 24 hours or by email at tox@ph.lacounty.gov
Last Updated: August 31, 2023
