[ad_1]
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Residents in St. Pete’s Childs Park neighborhood continue to be plagued with a foul odor after years of complaints.
Pinellas County Air Quality officials said they are working out the bugs with the air quality monitors that are on loan from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Even with that, they have collected some data that could narrow down the source of the odor.
While they sift through that data, the community is taking matters into their own hands.
It’s business as usual in the industrial corridor in the Childs Park neighborhood. But it’s that business that’s still the issue for many of the residents in the Childs Park neighborhood surrounding it.
“The smell is still here. Yeah, the smell is still here,” said Childs Park Neighborhood Association President, Brother John Muhamad. “It’s literally an oil refinery in the middle of a residential neighborhood with homes, a football field for youth and a library and a school right across the street.”
One business in the industrial complex is Howco Environmental Services, which is a used oil and material processing facility. Records from the EPA show the company is currently up for several permit renewals, including one related to air quality. Brother John said this is an opportunity for the community to make their voices heard.
“There’s inspections that happen annually, but the timeline on the permit is something we just became aware of. Like, here’s an opportunity because there’s been an intent to renew,” he said.
Howco is one of five companies with air permits in the industrial complex, according to county officials. Brother John said this is the company’s first permiresponset renewal with the DEP since the neighborhood association launched the “Smell Something, Say Something” campaign four years ago.
Interactive map of the Childs Park neighborhood
“It’s because they’re up for permit renewal and they’ve been one of the most perpetual consistent sources of odor,” he said.
Spectrum News reached out to Howco Environmental Services both by phone and email for a response, and never heard back.
In a report from Pinellas County air quality officials, the list of odor complaints for the neighborhood shows chemical smells and gas odors continue to be reported.
The community’s renewed efforts to identify and eliminate the odors here are part of what got Rachael Curran and students at Stetson Law School’s Jacobs Public Interest Law Clinic involved. The group just requested a hearing, asking DEP officials to meet with residents before the air permit is issued.
“We’re hoping the neighborhood association’s voice will be heard in decision making, so as state regulators consider whether to permit this facility for another five years to continue operating the same as usual,” Curran said.
Childs Park Neighborhood Association meeting. (Spectrum News/Saundra Weathers)
Curran said this is just one step they’re planning to take. After years of complaints, Brother John said he’s hoping it’s a step that will lead to finally airing out the odor issue.
“We’re looking for more long-term solutions and things we can do for the long term, which ideally would be to realize this business is no longer in the right place at the right time,” he said. “So, not renewing permits and shutting them down would be the ideal scene.”
It’s a big ask but one he believes is part of their right to clean air.
Attorneys working for the neighborhood association said after sending three requests, the DEP has acknowledged their request for an informal hearing. They are reviewing it and fill follow up with next steps.
Even with years of complaints from residents and industrial companies in the area, there is nothing officially stating that a particular company is the source of the odor.
[ad_2]
Saundra Weathers
Source link