City Of LA Sues Oil Company For Allegedly Violating Environmental Safety Regulations
UNIVERSITY PARK (CBSLA.com) — The City Attorney's Office is suing an oil company in South LA for allegedly spewing noxious vapors that have sickened nearby residents.
The complaint claims AllenCo Energy's oil field in University Park has failed to comply with environmental safety standards, including not having maintained fire suppression systems, not complying with water quality control standards and violating rules designed to ensure the safety of its neighbors and first-responders.
City Attorney Mike Feuer says residents have expressed complaints about AllenCo for quite some time. The area of South LA surrounding AllenCo's location is filled with day care centers and schools, the suit states.
"For years the residents living near AllenCo have complained about noxious odors and debilitating health problems," Feuer said Tuesday. "No community should have to live this way, with windows shut, children kept indoors to protect their health, and neighbors seeking relief from intolerable conditions. That is why I've filed this lawsuit today."
The suit calls for a permanent injunction that would require AllenCo to fully comply with all the safety regulations in question.http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/wp-admin/edit.php
In November, Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., teamed up with local residents in calling for AllenCo to cease operations until the situation had been remedied. Soon after, the company suspended its operations at the facility.
Boxer has praised Feuer for taking further action.
"The health and safety of the community can effectively be ensured only by preventing AllenCo from re-opening until it has complied fully with applicable law and no longer poses an imminent threat to public health," the suit states.
The company has offered no comment on the suit.
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