A group of residents near Castaic have filed a class action lawsuit against Los Angeles County and the Chiquita Canyon Landfill, alleging the dump smells so bad it represents a private and public nuisance.
Around 1,800 odor complaints have been generated since January. One local told a Community Advisory Committee meeting this month that his wife threw up on the sidewalk after catching a whiff of the landfill, the Santa Clarita Valley Signal reports.
The stench is believed to be the result of dimethyl sulfide, an industrial contaminant. According to the EPA, the substance can damage the lungs and cause severe inflammation to the eyes, mouth, and respiratory tract.
An expert told the Santa Clarita Valley Signal that he didn’t see cause for “immediate alarm,” but without knowing the exact levels of the chemical being released, it’s hard to tell how much of a long-term health risk it could be.
According to the lawsuit, Chiquita Canyon Landfill was cited in February for failing to provide a laboratory analysis for the gases released, and cited again in April for failing to ensure that “there are not leaks that exceed 500 (parts per million by volume, total organic compounds) measured as methane.”
L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents the area, says she set up a task force last month to look into the residents’ concerns.
A statement from Chiquita Canyon Landfill says they don't comment on pending litigation, but they're working "diligently" to address any odors coming from the facility.
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