2023-01-17 CC Agenda - Public Communication related to Hyperion #10ri-- _—
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Harada, Patricia
Subject: FW: Christmas had H2S >70 ppb at Hyperion + headaches/metallic tastes
From: Corrie Zupo <corriezupo@mail.om>
Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2023 10:48 PM
To: Kyle Wheeler<k leburtonwheeler rnail.com>
Cc: Adena Hopenstand <adena.ho enstand laci .o >; BFerrer h.lacount , pv; CA37 Casework mall,house. ov;
Chaaban, Diane <DChaaban else undo.or >; El Segundo Citizens demand clean air <else undo„cleanair maii.com>;
Fernando.Camgosj2Ia6ty,or George, Darrell <d eor a ellse undo.or >; Hi Sang Kim <hi-san .kim laci .or >;
Holt JMitchell bos,lacount ov; JWaldron bos.lacount . oar; John Pickhaver <iohn ickhaverir mail.com>; Lisa
Jacobs <I1 cobs@scng.corn>; Michelle Keldorf <mkeldorf'else undoccb,or >; Sarah Meyer
<s rahme er426 maiLcom>; Susana.Re es Iaci' ,or ; Timeyin Dafeta <time in.dafeta tacit .or >; Tonya Durrell
<tonya durrell@lacity.otg>; Traci Minamide <traci.minamide tacit .or >; Tyler Evains <tevains@scn .com,>;
WIASTRI a md. ov; ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS <ALLELECTEIOFFIC:IALS else undo.or >; barbara.romero lacit .or ;
connor.sheets latimes.corrcpc@lacity.org; Pimentel, Chris (Mayor Pro Tem) < imentel else undo.o >; Pirsztuk,
Carol (Council Member) <c irsztuk else undo,or >; cran an h.lacount . o'v; Boyles,Drew (Mayor)
<dbo Ies else undo.or >; Sassoon, Elias <esassoon else ur°do rg>; hamlet. an latimes.com;
lauramelson latimes.corn; Giroux, Lance (Council Member) <l iroux else undo,or >; matt, ha milton@_Iatimes.com;
rnavor.helpdes lacitv'.ore; mha nes a md. ov; rad.nowroozi sen.ca. o ; Nicol, Scot (Council Member)
<snicol else undo.or >; tmillerzarneke else undoccb,or
Subject: Re: Christmas had H2S >70 ppb at Hyperion + headaches/metallic tastes
Kyle, you read that correctly. I downloaded the AQMD data and did a pivot table. It is negligent and needs action. I
talked to USC today, and their health study will take FIVE years, so the game plan can't be to sit and wait for them to
finish studying our community and the health impacts. We all have kids and we want this resolved now.
-Corrie
On Tue, Jan 10, 2023 at 10:44 PM Kyle Wheeler <k leburtonwheeler mail.com> wrote:
Thank you for the data Corrie.
Am I reading this correct? 1 or 0 violations in the years leading up to the spill and then 41 violations in 2021 and 29 in
2022 post spill?
If so, clearly there is still something majorly wrong going on at the plant if they are receiving such a high volume of
violations from the AQMD almost 2 years later. I wish someone on the outside would do some investigating, because
clearly the managers of the Hyperion plant have yet to solve the root of the problem. Could be a lack of accountability
issue? Maybe we need a 3rd party consultant to step in and help Hyperion identify and solve their issue?
Hoping the city of LA will start paying attention to our emails and start holding the stakeholders of the Hyperion plant
accountable for the lack of action that has taken place over the last 2 years. The negligence has put the entire El
Segundo community at risk, including my 4 year old daughters and all their neighborhood friends.
Are we going to just wait to act until people start getting severely sick, or are we going to be proactive and address the
potential environmental catastrophe that is looming outside our front door?
Mayor Boyles, do you have anything to add?
On Tue, Jan 10, 2023 at 10:23 PM Corrie Chitlik <corrie a may il,corn> wrote:
Kyle,
I also lost track of the # of violations and hearing board petitions, and I looked it up (Hyperion is facility
ID 800214).
There's 70 violations in 2 years. There's been 5 Hearing Board
active).
how this isn't national news.
2 years (with two orders
am not sure
Corrie Zup
Sent from my iPhone
On Jan 10, 2023, at 9:06 PM, Kyle Wheeler <k ie urtonwheeler maii.corn> wrote:
Hi Tonya,
I don't know if you receive these updates directly, so I wanted to personally let you know that the
AQMD has once again cited the Hyperion Plant for an odor violation this evening, January 10, 2023. I've
lost track of how many violations the plant has received in the last year but I do know the number is
startling and substantially higher than the number of violations received the years prior to the spill. Can
you please provide an update as to what is causing the horrific smell today?
Also, many on this chain are still eagerly awaiting the timeline for when the new covers will be installed
and if it is the plants stance that once these covers are installed the odors will got back to the pre spill
norms. Do you have an answer for us on that?
Thank you,
Kyle Wheeler
On Fri, Jan 6, 2023 at 3:32 PM Tonya Durrell <ton a.durr it tacit .or > wrote:
Good afternoon,
As noted previously, emission spikes are mainly tied to wind and weather patterns and the primary
tanks that require new covers. We have replaced all the Primary Battery A tank covers and are working
diligently with our vendor to complete the remaining covers as quickly and efficiently as possible. In
addition, we met yesterday with the contractors to review opportunities to expedite the
process. In the meantime, the work continues.
We appreciate your patience.
Best,
Tonya
On Thu, Jan 5, 2023 at 8:40 PM Kyle Wheeler <k leburtonwhe ter mail.corn> wrote:
Good evening Tonya and all on this email chain. writing to report that it smells like raw sewage
throughout the city of el segundo tonight. Not breaking news since we've been dealing with this
basically every night since the environmental catastrophe that took place at the hyperion plant nearly 2
years ago.
I have yet to receive a response to my question so I will ask it for the third time.
WHAT IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE CONTINUED H2S VIOLATIONS AND THE NOXIOUS ODORS COMING
FROM THE PLANT, WHAT IS THE PLAN TO SOLVE, AND WHAT IS THE TIMELINE?
I along with over 200 residents have spoken with medical researchers at USC who are now conducting a
health study on El Segundo residents due to the outcry from the community regarding the adverse
health effects we have been experiencing since the spill nearly TWO years ago and the continued toxic
odors benign emitted from your plant. Headaches, nose bleeds, skin rashes. This is not normal and I'm
gravely concerned about my children and all the children and elderly that live in this community.
We are frustrated by the lack of action, the lack of oversight, and the lack of communication. The
continued smell is a daily call to action, so please don't think we are going to give up. We will continue
to do whatever it takes to get answers and results.
We have a group of 500 who are ready to hear your plan. We invite you to come to El Segundo to deliver
it to us in person.
On Jan 3, 2023, at 7:51 PM, Kyle Wheeler <k leburtonwheeler mail.com> wrote:
Good evening, Tonya.
We wanted to follow up on the below email thread as we have yet to get a response to our questions
and we are growing impatient. As residents who's daily lives are being dramatically impacted by the
disfunction at the Hyperion waste water treatment plant we demand answers.
I will ask my question again.
WHAT IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE CONTINUED H2S VIOLATIONS AND THE NOXIOUS ODORS COMING
FROM THE PLANT, WHAT IS THE PLAN TO SOLVE, AND WHAT IS THE TIMELINE?
I would also like to call out that we have been in communication with our Mayor and City Manager and
they have informed us that their calls and inquiries to plant management have gone unanswered. How
is that acceptable?
Please advise.
On Dec 27, 2022, at 7:18 AM, Corrie Chitlik <corrieu o mail.com> wrote:
Tonya,
I subscribe to the H2S alerts and I've never once gotten an alert. The system does not send out alerts.
This isn't just about H2S, we want to know what other air toxics we are being exposed to which cause a
metallic taste in peoples mouth.
When I talked to the AQMD (some young man, I forgot his name), he said Hyperion hasn't been
transparent or easy to work with. That's very concerning since our town has over 20% of the residents
under 18.
-Corrie
Sent from my iPhone
On Dec 26, 2022, at 7:45 PM, El Segundo Citizens demand clean air <else undo.cl'eanair maii.com>
wrote:
Tonya,
This is actually not a correct statement. The AQMD inspector (Inspector Hayes) was alerted about the
H2S by an El Segundo community member who happened to check the monitors because the stench
was so terrible.
Inspector Hayes then came to town, confirmed the odor, and proceeded to the plant to investigate.
When he met with the staff they were unaware that the H2S levels were drastically above your permit
guidelines.
It was because of our community members alerting the AQMD of the issue that your staff was alerted.
WHAT IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE CONTINUED H2S VIOLATIONS (2 this week!) AND THE NOXIOUS
ODORS COMING FROM THE PLANT AND WHAT IS THE PLAN TO REMEDY?
We are demanding an answer. The plant is poisoning the community, endangering human life, and the
continued negligence and inaction is criminal.
Please advise,
Kyle Wheeler
On Mon, Dec 26, 2022 at 7:16 PM Tonya Durrell <ton .durirell tacit .or > wrote:
Corrie,
As you know, Hyperion did experience a temporary elevation in H2S yesterday. The numbers
were back to normal within an hour and immediately reported to AQMD.
The monitoring system simultaneously relayed the information to El Segundo residents.
At the same time, our operations staff checked odor control equipment and found no
issues. Additionally, they conducted an odor survey in the El Segundo community, and
the readings were below five ppb.
Please be assured that these matters have our top priority.
Thank you,
Tonya
On Mon, Dec 26, 2022 at 1:32 PM Corrie Chitlik <corriezu o mail.corn> wrote:
Hello,
The press is copied on this email. It's been over a year of inaction and lack of data to what we are being
exposed too.
On Christmas Day, it was over 70 ppb H2S and today everyone has headaches and metallic taste in their
mouth. There has got to be other air toxics of concern in the air whenever Hyperion is having operator
negligence (see below). There's a wastewater plant and a biogas plant so you can't tell me I am only
being exposed to H2S whenever emission control equipment breaks down. H2S is not the only pollutant
of concern.
Here's an example of sewage causing metal tastes in the mouth and that is why other toxins need to be
monitored. My understanding is a TO-15 was done during an non -odor event for <24 hours, which is a
waste of tax payer money. We want VOCs samples during maintenance upsets so we know what we are
being exposed to during breakdowns. This is criminal to expose our children and seniors to such health
hazards for over a year and gaslight us into this just being an H2S issue:
-Corrie Zupo
Sent from my Phone
On Dec 23, 2022, at 2:59 PM, Corrie Chitlik <corriiezu o maii.com> wrote:
Okay, thank you. Looks like we all might have a stinky Christmas. Is the pressure gauge also
going to also be fixed and will the water levels be inspected on a maintenance schedule of some sort?
That'll let the operators know ahead of time if the filter is spent. All compliance equipment in the air
permit should be stored in the warehouse at min and max levels. At this point, the system #1 isn't being
maintained per the air permit.
-Corrie
Sent from my iPhone
On Dec 23, 2022, at 2:20 PM, Tonya Durrell <ton a.durrelll Iacit .or > wrote:.
Corrie,
Thank you for your patience as we awaited information from our vendor and AQMD on
this issue. The change out of the saturated activated carbon is scheduled for December
26, 2022. After the change out, the activated carbon filter will be placed online.
Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Very best,
Tonya
Tony: Durrell
Public Information Director
LA Sanitation and Environment
Community Services Group
Phone: 213-485-5303
Email: tonya.durrell@iacity.or
Web: www. tacitys? rp. or
24-hour Customer Care: 1-800-773-2489
On Thu, Dec 22, 2022 at 5:11 AM Tonya Durrell <ton a.durrell tacit .or > wrote:
Corrie,
I will provide details on any needed repairs and schedule later today.
Thank you!
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Corrie Chitlik <corriezuooCmail.com>
Date: Wed, Dec 21, 2022 at 11:54 PM
Subject: Re: Hyperion Meeting November 10
To: Tonya Durrell <ton a.durrell tacit .or >
CC: Kyle Wheeler <k leburtonwheeler mail.com>, Citizens El Segundo
<else undo.cleanair maii.com>, George, Darrell <d eor a else undo.or >, John Pickhaver
<iohn ickhaverjr mail.com>, Michelle Keldorf <rnkeldorf else undoccb.or >, Sarah Meyer
<sarahme er426 mail.com>, <barb,ara.rornero tacit .or >, <c imentel else undo.or >,
<c irsztuk else undo.or >, <dbo les else undo.or >, <esassoonelseundo org>,
<l iroua else undo.or >, <sn coI else ,undo org>, <tmillerzarneke else undoccb.or >,
<mhraye @agmd.gov>
Hi Tonya,
Thank you for the details but I am unclear on replacement timeline. Will this be fixed before Christmas?
My understanding is activated carbon is just coconut shell material (or filters) that are easily replaced
on the day -of (sort of like a water filter). Usually this item is in the stores inventory. I used to be a
contractor at Miller Lite Beer Company and this was a day -of swap out since it was an inventory item.
Any idea when it won't smell like sewage and the filters will be replaced?
-Corrie
Sent from my Phone
On Dec 21, 2022, at 10:39 PM, Tonya Durrell <tonua.durrell lacity.org> wrote:
Good evening all,
In response to the recent inquiries regarding odor complaints at Hyperion, please note
that on 12/20, Hyperion staff became immediately aware of the equipment malfunction
of an activated carbon filter installed near the south end of the Primary Battery D, near
the El Segundo side. The unit was installed to augment the Primary Centralized
Scrubber System. Even without the activated carbon filter, the main system-- Primary
Centralized Scrubber System, should work independently for most of the collection and
treatment of the foul air from the primary treatment area.
Typically when an activated carbon filter is used up or saturated, it will no longer work
properly. The saturated activated carbon will have to be replaced before the filter
resumes its operations. Yesterday, 12/20/2022, the operations staff, in response to the
high H2S reading measured at the Central Monitoring Station, determined that the
activated carbon filter was no longer working effectively. The unit was immediately
secured. Hyperion staff are working on replacing the activated carbon and placing the
filter back online. Meanwhile, the main, Primary Centralized Scrubber System, is or has
been online doing its function as usual.
As part of our communications protocols, this information was provided to the El
Segundo Public Works Director last night when the event occurred.
Thank you,
Tonya Durrell
Public Information Director
LA Sanitation and Environment
Community Services Group
Phone: 213-485-5303
Email: tonya.durrett@tacity.org
Web: wu°aww, lacitysan. orb
24-hour Customer Care: 1-800-773-2489
On Tue, Dec 20, 2022 at 8:57 PM Tonya Durrell <tonya.durrell@lacity.org> wrote:
Thank you for your email. We will look into this right away and provide an update as soon as possible.
Tonya
On Tue, Dec 20, 2022 at 8:54 PM Kyle Wheeler <k leburtonwheeler mail.com> wrote:
Hi all - adding Mayor Boyles, the El Segundo city council members, as well as the city attorney to this
thread because I want to ensure all are up to speed, as it seems Hyperion doesn't always keep our city in
the loop with issues at the plant.
Tonya,
It's been an awful week on the west side of El Segundo, but today was exceptionally bad. At 10am the
entire west side smelled like human waste. It was nauseating. I called the plant and was told everything
was good and they had no idea why it's been so smelly for the last week or so. Well, at 5pm another
wave of the most nauseating odor (human waste) rolled through town. My second call to the plant
today revealed that your NEW scrubber system is no longer operational and has been completely taken
off line. How is this possible? How much tax payer money was wasted on this new scrubbing system that
is no longer in service? And how long will it take to repair?
My question is why does this continue to happen? I run my own business and if I failed my clients as
much as Hyperion has failed El Segundo, and LA city for that matter, I would have been sued so many
times I would be out of business. Where is the accountability? Where is the transparency?
We are not going to just go away. Residents are just getting angrier by the day. As Mrs. Chitlik stated, we
are working closely with Ben Allen, Ted Lieu, and have a meeting with Karen Bass' office to bring them
up to speed on the turmoil the Hyperion plant has put El Segundo through for the last 20 months.
As Mrs. Chitlik previously stated, in short, we are angry and motivated and are in this for the long -haul. I
wish that Hyperion would do the right thing and work with the City of El Segundo.
Sincerely,
Kyle Wheeler
On Mon, Dec 19, 2022 at 9:14 PM Corrie Chitlik <corriezu o mail.com> wrote:
Hi Tonya,
Happy holidays and happy new year. I don't want to come off rude, because I know you're just doing
your job, and I have been in your shoes when I worked at AES Redondo Beach. It's not fun dealing with
angry residents. I don't really have any questions, but I am angry at the City of LA and LASANS. I think
there's a lot of wordsmithing and diluting going on with the executive teams. The District is
systematically complicated, and that is why it's top heavy with upper management. Usually, the system
is designed to wear out and confuse residents, and we eventually give up.
It's winter, so it's not stinky daily, but it was stinky this weekend. I am concerned that this summer time
when it heats up, it's going to be a repeat of 2021 and 2022. This is not going to be our new normal
because when I moved here in 2014, it never stunk and the facility was properly maintained (I think). We
purchased our home in 2018, and I would have never invested in a home less than a mile from Hyperion
if I new we lived next to a mis-managed facility. The fact it's the largest wastewater plant in the USA, I
just assumed it was properly maintained. Wouldn't you assume the same if your property tax bill was 5
digits and LASANS increased your sewer rates by 91% in August 2020?
I am angry that every AQMD Hearing Board is a waste of everyone's time. The 12/15 zoom call was
uneventful since no one was prepared and nothing was really resolved. The H2S monitoring system is
severely delayed (by hours and calibrations don't take hours) and unreliable (shows 0 ppm often when it
stinks). The H2S limit was last updated in 1969 and it doesn't take into account highly dense residential
cities. We don't have fenceline monitoring for other air toxics of concern (shockingly, I learned in 2019
that this town has a lot of cancer and auto -immune diseases. Two kids have died since we bought our
house).
At this point, this is all just making me more and more angry. We are in conversations with Senator Ben
Allen because I think we are at the point where the State of CA needs to step in. We are also working
with USC to study the long-term impacts of H2S (which isn't my top concern since H2S isn't cancerous,
but it's a piece of the puzzle). This is too time consuming at the local level and we really aren't getting
anywhere. I think the City of ES's letters over the past several months have been rational and fair, but
we aren't getting a resolve. The amount of taxpayer dollars that have been devoted to this on -going
issue is highway robbery to the working class and we are just borrowing against our childrens future.
In short, I am angry and I am motivated to follow this in the long -haul. I wish that Hyperion would do the
right thing and work with the City of El Segundo.
-Corrie
Sent from my Whone
On Dec 19, 2022, at 9:25 AM, Tonya Durrell <ton a,durrell Iacit .or-> wrote:
Good morning all,
I hope you are enjoying this season and have a happy new year!
Thank you all again for meeting with us, and let me know if you have any questions.
Best,
Tonya Durrell
Public Information Director
LA Sanitation and Environment
Community Services Group
Phone: 213-485-5303
Email: tonya.durrell@lacity.org
Web: www.lacit san,or
24-hour Customer Care: 1-800-773-2489
On Thu, Nov 10, 2022 at 11:41 AM Tonya Durrell <ton a.durrell tacit ,or > wrote:
Oh, no. I hope things are okay. Thank you for letting me know.
Best,
Tony: Durrell
Public Information Director
LA Sanitation and Environment
Community Services Group
Phone: 213-485-5303
Email: tonya.durrell@lacity.org
Web: wwwAacit san. or
24-hour Customer Carer 1-800-773-2489
On Thu, Nov 10, 2022 at 11:12 AM Corrie Chitlik <corriezu o mail.com> wrote:
Hi Tonya,
I had two work emergencies pop up and I can't attend. I apologize for the last minute cancellation..
Sarah, John, and Michelle are still able to attend. We appreciate the meeting!
-Corrie
Sent from my iPhone
On Nov 9, 2022, at 12:07 PM, Corrie Chitlik <corriezupo@ mail.com> wrote:
Hi Tonya,
Confirmed and thank you. I copied the other attendees as well.
Best regards,
Corrie Zupo
Sent from my iPhone
On Nov 9, 2022, at 10:59 AM, Tonya Durrell <ton ;a.durrell lac,it .or > wrote:
Hi Corrie,
This email is to confirm our meeting scheduled for tomorrow, November 10, from 1:30
p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Please see the meeting information below and share it with your guests:
. Enter through Gate C located off the intersection of Vista del Mar and Hyperion
Way.
oSecurity will greet you at the entrance and will request to see
your government -issued ID.
o Please notify security that you are part of the Hyperion meeting, and they
will direct you where to park.
Thank you so much, and we look forward to meeting with you!
Tonya Durrett
Public Information Director
LA Sanitation and Environment
Community Services Group
Phone: 213-485-5303
Email- tonya.durreUClacity.org
Web: www.lacitysan.org
2- our Customer Care- 1-800-773-2489
Tonya Durrell
Public Information Director
LA Sanitation and Environment
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