Air Quality Inspectors Blame Foul Odor On Santa Fe Springs Company

SANTA FE SPRINGS (CBSLA.com) — Air quality inspectors were investigating complaints of a foul odor Monday in Santa Fe Springs.

South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) inspectors have received more than 80 complaints since Saturday morning of a "rotten egg-type" odor in the area.

"I thought I had a natural gas leak. I thought I had to abandon the house," said Norwalk resident Tim Walsh. "Southern California Gas (Company) came...and he said, 'No, it's not a natural gas leak. It's Lakeland.'"

CBS2's Greg Mills reported that the odors have been tracked to Lakeland Processing Company, where they process industrial waste water. The plant is owned by Ridgeline Energy Services USA.

Back in July, AQMD officials cited Lakeland for four violations when hydrogen sulfide gas leaked out of one of the tanks. Ridgeline apparently took care of the issue two months ago, but the odor came back this weekend, which prompted officials to cite the company for two more violations.

AQMD said even at low-levels, hydrogen sulfide does produce a strong odor that can cause dizziness and nausea, but it is not a long-term danger.

Air quality officials will meet with Ridgeline to come up with a solution to the problem.