Econo-My-Scene: Chalk one up for HAWAIIAN GARDENS DIPLOMACY!

Econo-My-Scene:

Chalk one up for "Hawaiian Gardens Diplomacy"

By Randy Economy

Stop Labeling our Community

I have always been compassionate about an open and honest dialogue between our local city halls, and the community residents that are the heart and soul of the
world around us.

Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Cerritos and Hawaiian Gardens have all been in local, state and national headlines recently, and many say for all the wrong reasons.

In Norwalk we have seen sexual harassment lawsuits against two elected city council members and a third city councilman is currently under scrutiny by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. Many are calling the Norwalk's City Council the "Most Touchy Feely" City Council in California. Get my drift.

In Pico Rivera we have watched one controversial City Councilman have his home, business and city hall office raided by the District Attorney's Office of Public Integrity a couple of weeks ago. An investigation is underway, but the DA is tight lipped about what they are looking for and if anyone else under their microscope.

In the All-America/Green City of Cerritos, we have watched as television news stations and national media outlets label the community as having the "Most Toxic Air" in America. The City has a pristine image and they want to keep it that way.

In Hawaiian Gardens we have watched "America's Largest Gang Raid" ever conducted over the past two months. Hundreds of people have been arrested and it has divided The Gardens into "us versus them," and the serious pain inflicted over the situation is almost humanly unimaginable.

Labels can destroy the image of a community, and it's time to stop putting cities into "classifications" or "categories." It's time for everyone to listen to each other openly and honestly without fear and retaliation.

Hawaiian Gardens Diplomacy

In The Gardens, I want to salute three community leaders this week.

Pastor Barry Bruce for his amazing ability to open a dialogue with both the Hawaiian Gardens City Council and with Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca over the pain that has been caused on the recent gang sweeps and federal injunctions here.

I also want to congratulate HG Mayor Mike Gomez and Sheriff Baca for LISTENING to Pastor Bruce and to the People of Hawaiian Gardens this past week during a very tense and heated city council meeting.

These three passionate community leaders are proof that all sides of a controversial issue can be heard and that solutions can be reached when people just begin to talk to each other.

All of us can learn from the conversation that is occurring in Hawaiian Gardens.

It's time for diplomacy and healing to occur within our great neighborhoods, one conversation at a time.

Your thoughts?

Drop me a note to RREconomy@Cerritosnews.com

Cerritos Community Leader Jean M. Mc Hatton enters Cerritos College Board of Trustees Election

CERRITOS COLLEGE

Election

UPDATE!

Cerritos resident JEAN M. MC HATTON has pulled Nomination Papers to be a candidate in the upcoming November 3rd Cerritos Community College Board of Trustees election. Jean has been active at Cerritos College for many, many years, and is key mover and shaker with the Cerritos College Foundation.

Jean served as Chair Woman of the CC Foundation in 2005-06.

Look for her to have tons of key local endorsements...and tons of grassroots supporters.

More to follow....

Randy Economy

HOT SCENE: WILL DONATO lights up Cerritos Sheraton Grille 91, each Thursday all SUMMER long!

Randy Economy Photos

Summer-MUST-DO!
This was an incredible night of Jazz under the Dome and at the Cerritos Sheraton Hotel's amazing Grille 91 Restaurant.

Tonight the incredible Will Donato and his electric jazz group filled the air of the Cerritos Towne Center and Cerritos Sheraton Hotel will the lively sharp saxophone jazz, that demanded that you get OUT of your chairs, and onto the dance floor.

Will Donato is an incredible performer. He makes you feel special, and his kindness is contagious!

What a great night, and hats off the Chef Carlos Garcia for an AMAZING dinner of Prime Rib,Creamy Horseradish and Au Jus Sauce, Steamed Vegetables and Baked Potato Bar...all this for $10.95 PER PERSON!

The Sheraton also has incredible DRINK SPECIALS and the best RESTAURANT staff in all of CERRITOS! Great to see Milkana and Ramon and Henry and Shasta and Faith and Chef Juan tonight!

SEEN
Also SEEN tonight was the AMAZING Cerritos City Manger Art Gallucci and his beautiful wife Joanne, and the vibrant and kind Cerritos City Councilman Jim Edwards and his lovely wife Connie!

Mark your CALENDARS for EVERY THURSDAY night here at the Cerritos Sheraton Hotel's Grille 91....ART of SAX Summer Concert Series! For more on Will, check out http://www.willdonato.com/

For Reservations please call (562)403-2029 in advance, and tell them you read about it here on my Blog!
Randy Economy

Caught on tape: Santa Cruz City Council Meeting goes ga ga. Move over Miss Teen South Carolina, you got competition!

Image via Wikipedia

You have to watch this "verbally challenged" environmentalist who appeared before the Santa Cruz California City Council Meeting. It is a hit on You Tube, and today, it's my "Clip of the Week."

She reminds me of the former Teen Miss South Carolina, or any one of the many "Public Comment Gang" that appear before the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors each and every week.

Anyway...this is another classic look at the "Our World Around Us" and if you actually understand what she really is talking about, let me know.

Randy Economy

Healing In Hawaiian Gardens: Beginning a Conversation, with everyone listening!

Image via Wikipedia

KUDOS IN

THE GARDENS!
Tonight I watched the Hawaiian Gardens City Council Meeting and wanted to congratulate three outstanding community leaders for formally beginning an OPEN and HONEST conversation between the the residents, city council members, and the Sheriff of Los Angeles County.

Kudos to Hawaiian Gardens community leader Pastor Barry Bruce for his passionate honesty tonight, and to Mayor Mike Gomez for his diplomacy, and to Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca for "listening" and "learning" and "reaching out" to everyone, and to the hundreds of concern residents who are still in search of answers.

In order to begin a "conversation" between interested parties, you need to develop a plan and rules and everyone needs to respect one and other. Tonight Hawaiian Gardens became the "example" on how a community needs to deal with a crisis. Every City Council Member and City Manager, and Law Enforcement officials in California should watch this meeting tonight and learn from this amazing community..

I will be talking more about this in my column this weekend with the Los Cerritos Community News.

Until then, my hat is off to everyone in Hawaiian Gardens tonight! Job well done. Congratulations!

Your thoughts? Drop me a note to RREconomy@aol.com

Randy Economy

Tony The Twitter: Your take...lol

Hey Randy...

How about...
"The Curious Case of Tony the Twit
More Work, Less Twitter"

Joe Scartuchio
Cerritos

Joe...that is BRILLIANT!

Randy

Los Cerritos Community News Column focuses on Taking Back our Precious Planet from Toxic Polluters!

Econo-My-Scene: Cleaning Up our Planet started with a Buzz in the air!

By Randy Economy

I was 9 years old when Neal Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first two men to walk on the Moon back in the Summer of '69.

My family moved to the Eastside of Cerritos one year earlier, and we were surrounded by cows and corn fields. We held an "Out of This World Block Party" with all of our neighbors and friends for that special day. We watched in wonderment. Before our very eyes, we saw two men walk on the moon.
It was more than just one small step. It was the day that changed Mankind, forever.
A couple of years later, when I was attending Carmenita Junior High School in 1971, one of those precious, rare moon rocks paid a grand visit to our campus.
I stood in a long line, and touched the Heavenly rock that was guarded by members of the Military and local law enforcement. I remember how sharp and coarse and dense the jagged rock felt.
We actually had to have our parents sign a letter saying it was okay for us to be in the same room with the moon rock, just "in case" it might contained something "mysterious" or "hazardous" to our well being.
Fast forward 25 years later in 1994: I was working in the cable television industry and was attending a Discovery Channel party honoring Aldrin to commemorate the 15^th Anniversary of Apollo 11,
under the stars at the awe inspiring Griffith Park Observatory.
While standing in line for dinner, I looked over my shoulder, and lo' and behold, there he was. The Man. The Astronaut. Captain Buzz Aldrin. I shook his hand, hugged him, and thanked him for being my inspiration. I thanked him for empowering me and others to be the "Keepers of our Planet."
The "Ecology" Movement began here in Cerritos in the early 1970's.
We became an "Urban Forrest," we recycled our "reclaimed" water, made our new city hall operate on solar energy panels. The ABC Unified School District taught us about our local environment. We marched in our streets to make sure that the County of Los Angeles build more green space here, instead of more houses and industrial areas.
Sadly, we made a huge mistake back then, and today we must "right" those "wrongs" of our past.
We allowed major parts of our bedroom community to become the "home" to some mega smoke-stacking chemical producers, and toxic metal processors, and federal government fuel tank farms.
We sat silent and forgot the importance of protecting our precious Earth. We forgot to question if these businesses in an area I have named "Toxic Triangle" at Carmenita/Alondra/Firestone Frontage Road were in the "very best interest" of our health.
We forgot the importance of checking public records to see what's going on "inside" these plants. We forgot that it is our responsibility to keep tabs on these businesses, not just the government.
So, now IS the TIME for the People to take control of our local environment, once again. It's time for a new commitment right here in Cerritos, and Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, and in The Gardens.
We can't move mountain's by using spoons.
We need determination, and the courage to fight the good fight, and a plan to help keep our precious Mother Earth alive for generations to follow.
Your thoughts?
Drop me a note to RREconomy@aol.com.
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Exclusive: 32 Above Ground Tanks at Heraeus NOT ANCHORED PROPERLY to GROUND. Fined $32,000.00 in 2008 and FORCED to remedy matter

CLICK TO ENLARGE!

EXCLUSIVE! This is the ONLY PLACE you will FIND this INFORMATION! PLEASE EMAIL THIS TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO CARE ABOUT OUR GREAT COMMUNITY!
randy economy

I have learned that Heraeus Metal Processing of Santa Fe Springs has been cited, fined and has been under investigation on several occassions by the California Environmental Protection Agency.

Since 2000 all of these violations are considered to be "major infractions" according to the Cal EPA.

I want to START sharing the ACTUAL documents which outline the severity of this companies toxic acts with our bedroom community.

This particular Consent Order against Heraeus Metal Processing Inc., at
13429 Alondra Boulevard, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90607 was finalized on December 19, 2008, less than 8 months ago. The violation was signed (bottom copy) by Curtis Mello, Vice President of Heraeus Metal Processing, Inc. Mukul Agarwal, the Unit Chief of the Department of Toxic Substances Control. It is listed as Docket HWCA Ag 01/02-3001 and is in regards to the violation of California Health and Safety Code 25187.
This is a Consent Order from the California Environmental
Protection Agency Department of Toxic Substances Control, and was
issued on December 19, 2008.

In this Action, the California EPA found that Heraeus was in violation of California Code of Regulations, title 22, section 66264.191(a), 66264.191 (i)(9), in that on or about JUNE 17, 2008, Heraeus FAILED to REMEDY TANK discrepancies (previously) identified in the 2003, 2004, and 2007 TANK Certifications.

There were thirty-two (32) above ground tanks located in the Refinery Building which were NOT ANCHORED for SEISMIC LOADS. They were found to be in violation of California Health and Safety code and ordered to pay a fine of $35,000.00 and to correct the violations.

MY TAKE
This is very alarming to me, and it should be to you as well.

I have found at least 5 OTHER
violations from the California EPA against Heraeus at this location at the
corner of Alondra Boulevard and Carmenita Road.

WE ARE sitting on top of many major Earthquake Fault lines right HERE in our BEDROOM community.

Can you imagine if the BIG ONE hits (Magnitude 6.8 or greater), and these toxic tanks are in such disrepair?

Have you seen the condition of this ONE plant?

More to follow....MUCH MUCH more.

Randy Economy

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58% FAVOR CLOSING or RELOCATING Hereaus and others; More details emerging about Hereaus past violations and fines

It REALLY is DIRTY SMOKE!

During this past weekend, I asked my readers to take a "snap poll" about the "smoke stack factory's" here in the Carmenita Road/Alondra Boulevard/Firestone Frontage area. Around 30 of you took it, and tonight I want to share the results.

58% of you think that our bedroom community here IS NOT the BEST place for these smokestacks like Heraeus to SHUT DOWN operations and to RELOCATE to another less dense populated area.

17% of you think that HERAEUS and others like them here are just fine, and that they poise no risk to our health or lives, and 29% of us want more information from the EPA. and not from local politicians and paid "experts." 5% of you just aren't sure about this entire situation. Stay tuned.

HERAEUS Santa Fe Springs

UNDER

FIRE FROM STATE EPA

I have documentation from The State of California Environmental Protection Agency Department of Toxic Substances Control that shows Heraeus Metal Processing here in SFS has been guilty of numerous violations from the State's Clean Air Act over the past 7 years.

I am mulling through all of these "Consent Orders" and will be posting them here on the Blog in the next couple of days. It is amazing to see what is actually going on inside Hereaus. These Consent ORDERS, and the fines are eye opening.

Remember...where their is smoke...

I am finally beginning to understand the scope of this entire situation.

Randy Economy

ABC School Board Race: James Kang files against incumbents Mark Pulido and David Montgomery

JAMES KANG, a Cerritos retired business executive, has filed as a candidate for the upcoming November ABC Unified School District Board of Education.

Also filing are incumbents Mark Pulido and David Montgomery. Incumbent Olympia Chen has yet to indicate if she will seek another 4 year term.

If elected, Kang wants to bring "a new voice and perspective
Stengthening relationship with teachers, parents, and the community."

He want's to "foster professional development for teachers and staff; Improve students achievement; Expand students' access to honors and extracurricular programs and improve services for students with special needs.

Kang also want to implement district funds efficiently and favors
setting term limits for shool board memebers to serving two, four year terms (lol...like TERM LIMITS would ever get implemented here...NOT!)

Anyway, I am thrilled to see that James is running for ABC School Board. We need several more GOOD/concerned community members to RUN for ABC School Board this campaign!

Deadline is August 7th to run!

Let's GO DODGERS! A Day CELEBRATING AMERICA'S PAST TIME with the Boys in Blue!

Down goes DODGER ANDRE ETHIER after missing a WILD WILD pitch!

Randy Economy Photos

Today I spent a great afternoon with my dear friend Julia Emerson along with one of her great workmates Renia, and my bro Martin Garnier at Dodgertown, USA. The Blue Crew beat the Houston Astros 4-3.

Julia is one of the BEST Community/Business Leaders we have here in our entire South East Los Angeles County Region, and is with an Executive with the Southern California Gas Company. We have been friends, and former classmates from our day's at Cerritos College. Her passion for life and for the well being of our community is an inspiration to me, and to countless others! Today was a total thrill!

BTW...The HEAT was intense over at the Ravine. Also checked out the AMAZING GARLIC PESTO FRIES...and PHILLY CHEESESTEAKS and SLUSSHY LEMONADE FREEZER. I actually PASSED on having a traditional World Famous Dodger Dog. Enjoy the PICS!

Here is a quick game summary: Brad Ausmus doubled home Matt Kemp twice, sacrificed him into scoring position for a third run, then watched from the on-deck circle as Kemp slugged the tiebreaking homer with two out in the bottom of the eighth of Sunday's 4-3 Dodgers win over the Astros. Kemp was 3-for-3 with four runs scored, a walk and stolen base. The Dodgers won this game despite an injury to second baseman Orlando Hudson's surgically repaired left wrist; despite a hitless game from Manny Ramirez, who went 2-for-14 with five strikeouts in his first home series since serving a 50-game suspension for violating the Major League Baseball drug policy; and despite a five-inning start from Hiroki Kuroda, who spotted the Astros a 3-0 lead in the third inning, with Geoff Blum slugging a two-run homer. In his past three starts, Kuroda is winless with an 8.47 ERA.

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HERAEUS POLL: What's your opinion about the "smoke" at Heraeus Plant in Santa Fe Spings/Cerritos Boarder?

Image via Wikipedia

Smokestacks blast East Cerritos on Friday night
at 10 p.m. Randy Economy photo
ECONOMY POLL:

Just wanted to get a quick "gage" on what you think about the Heraeus Plant controversery here in the All American Cities of Santa Fe Springs and Cerritos. Yep. Santa Fe Springs was also bestowed The All American City Award way before Cerritos.

So...whatcha thinkin?



Keep the Smoke stacks? Life and our Health is hunky dunky? A little bit of Hydrazine is good for one's character!



Or, Let's get this Smokestack Alley packing! See you Heraeus, and take the other area factories along with you. Enough is enough. Time to prove we mean GREEN!

Or, I need more data....facts man...more facts....less political mumbo jumbo....

Take my Poll....you have the next 60 hours to vote and get your neighbors to chime in as well.
Randy Economy
Go Dodgers!

Heraeus Plant Accident in Santa Fe Springs on Thursday: Employee rushed to UCI after 80 lbs of bleach spills. Community Hearing Deatails set

BREAKING
NEWS
On Thursday night, a worker at the controvesial Heraeus Metal Processing Plant at Carmenita Road and Alondra Boulevard >>>>>>>>
at the boarder of Santa Fe Springs and Cerritos, was rushed to UC Irvine Medical Center early Thursday after about 80 pounds of bleach spilled inside the facility, causing great concern our local community here.


Janet Ortiz, a Santa Fe Springs Fire Department spokesperson, said in media reports that the unidentified man was mixing a batch of bleach solution when about 80 pounds of the chemical overflowed out of a large tank, partially dousing the worker.

The man was said to have suffered "minor to moderate" injuries. No additional details were released about the victims identity or how long he has been an employee at Heraeus. No one else was injured and the chemical, described as a bleach compound, was cleaned up on site, she said.



My Opine:

This is another PRIME EXAMPLE why these type of chemical spouting mega-smoke stack factories have no business operating here in our beautiful bedroom community of Cerritos, California...PERIOD!

How many more accidents will happen here before someone does somethingg to close this place down?

CERRITOS COMMUNITY PUBLIC HEARING SET?
Also, I have learned that local Cerritos officials will be conducting the much anticipated "Community Hearing" on Tuesday, August 18th at 7:00 p.m. at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts Center. More details to follow.
Randy Economy Photo and report

Could SURPRISE CANDIDATE change Artesia City Council election? Stay tuned.

randy economy pics

ARTESIA CAM-PAIN?

Hearing lots of rumblings tonight that a well connected, well funded, never expected challenger could be launching a "serious" campaign for this November's Artesia City Council election.

If my sources are correct, this ONE person's entry into the Artesia council race will cause "heads" to turn, and will send a political shock wave over on Summer Avenue in Artesia.

Hint, she is a she...and she is a Latina (humm..."A wise Latina?) ...and she lives in the northern portion of Artesia, and she has never sought public office before, but has a well known political name.

Three well-known incumbents, Mayor Sally Zuniga Flowers, and Councilmen John Martins and Victor Manalo are all up for re-election and have till Aug. 7th to file.

Stay tuned.

Checking more sources before I go any further.

RrE

Hey...got a tip: drop me a note.

rreconomy@aol.com

EXCLUSIVE: Heraeus found guilty of FALSIFYING Clean Air Act Records in Jan. 09 at Tennessee Plant, fined $350,000.00 & placed on Federal Probation

Image via Wikipedia

EXCULSIVE: This is the Federal Conviction of Heraeus Metal Processing from January, 21st, 2009 at their plant in Tennessee. Heraeus operates a similar plant here on the boarder of Cerritos in the City of Santa Fe Springs. My question, if Heraeus lied to the Federal Government in Tennessee, and was convicted of federal fraud, are they capable of doing the same thing here in in Cerritos? The source of this story is The Derptment of Justice and the contact number is listed in the last paragraph. The community needs to know what Hereaus is really all about.

Randy Economy

Department of Justice
United States Attorney James R. Dedrick Eastern District of Tennessee
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 21, 2009

HERAEUS METAL PROCESSING INC. PLEADS GUILTY TO FALSIFYING RECORDS REQUIRED BY CLEAN AIR ACT
AND PAYS $350,000 FINE

[KNOXVILLE, TN] -Heraeus Metal Processing, Inc.(Heraeus), pled guilty today in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee in Knoxville, to a one-count Information, charging it with making false material statements in and omitting material information from a document required to be maintained pursuant to the Clean Air Act, in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 7413(c)(2)(A).

Specifically, Heraeus falsified baghouse pressure logs and scrubber logs required to be maintained at its Wartburg, Tennessee, facility pursuant to permits issued by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) under delegation from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Pursuant to a plea agreement between the United States and Heraeus, United States District Judge Thomas Phillips sentenced the company to pay a fine of $350,000 and serve 18 months of probation. While on probation, Heraeus was ordered not to commit any local, state or federal crime; and is required to report all notices of violation, proposed administrative penalty orders or other proposed administrative enforcement actions pertaining to its Tennessee operations to U.S. Probation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The scrubber and baghouse systems at the Wartburg, Tennessee, facility of Heraeus were air pollution control devices for which logs recording various operating parameters of the systems were required to be kept under the United States Clean Air Act. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) issued a construction permit to Heraeus in May 2004, which, among other things, governed operations and emissions from potential sources of air pollution, specifically a baghouse and scrubber system. Heraeus was required to submit an annual report to TDEC in March 2005, which included the baghouse and scrubber logs.

The investigation leading to this Information found that between October 2004 and a least February 2005, no contemporaneous logs were maintained by the Wartburg Facility for either the baghouse or the scrubber system as required by the respective permits. In late February 2005, Heraeus’s Operations Manager, acting on behalf of Heraeus, created a false baghouse pressure drop log for the Wartburg facility. The false report contained pressure drop readings that were not contemporaneously recorded and falsified the initials of other employees as the operators of record. Additionally, in February 2005, the Operations Manager directed a subordinate employee to retroactively create a log for the scrubber system. The false reports were submitted to TDEC with Heraeus’s annual report in April 2005.

After the falsification came to light, Heraeus fully cooperated with the federal investigation conducted by the East Tennessee Environmental Crimes Task Force, which included law enforcement personnel from the EPA Criminal Investigation Division (EPA-CID) , EPA Office of Inspector General (TVA-OIG), TDEC, and Tennessee Valley Authority Office of Inspector General (TVA-OIG).

The case was prosecuted jointly by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee and the Environmental Crimes Section of the U.S. Department of Justice.

"Accurate information about pollutant emissions is essential for the EPA and the State of Tennessee to ensure clean air for everyone," said Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Ivan Vikin. “When companies submit false information to the regulatory agencies, the system in place for protecting the environment is jeopardized. Data falsification to EPA and TDEC will not be tolerated.” ASAC Vikin further added,

“ I want to acknowledge the work of the Environmental Crimes Task Force for the Eastern District of Tennessee for the investigation and prosecution of this case. It is an excellent example of federal and state agencies working together to protect public health and the environment."United States Attorney Russ Dedrick said, “Corporations and individuals who lie, cheat and falsify reports, such as Heraeus, will be charged and prosecuted for the potential harm or any actual harm they inflict by their attempts to subvert the laws and regulations concerning environmental enforcement.”


For additional information regarding this case, please contact United States Attorney Russ Dedrick, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Morris, or Public Information Officer Sharry Dedman-Beard at 865-545-4167.

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Econo-My-Scene: Holy Hydrazine Batman. No More Political Mumbo Jumbo

By Randy Economy
I would have NEVER imagined that I would have to become educated about a dangerous gas called “Hydrazine,” which according to the Environmental Protection Agency is highly toxic and is polluting our air here on the Eastside of Cerritos.

Don’t mess with Hydrazine. It’s wicked and dangerous to us human folks.

Hydrazine is a known carcinogen that causes damage to your kidneys, liver, and reproductive organs. It causes cancers and horrific breathing disorders.

The EPA revealed that in 2002 an industrial plant run by a company called PGP Industries/Hereaus here in the back yard of East Cerritos has emitted a “dangerous” amount of Hydrazine into our air.

How come we weren’t informed about this chemical leak SEVEN years ago?

Why are we sitting silent to those we send to protect us in Washington, DC and Sacramento?

I live around 4,000 yards (as the crow flies) from PGP/Hereaus. This company is actually located in the City of Santa Fe Springs and has been at this Carmenita Road and Alondra Boulevard site for eons.

According to Heraeus, they are a “globally active precious metals and technology Group” with firm roots in Germany, headquartered in Hanau near Frankfurt. The company has been family-owned for more than 155 years. Precious metals, sensors, dental and medical products, quartz glass, and specialty lighting sources are the focus of their activities.

Quick grab me my Resume, I totally would love to work for such a “delightful” sounding company like this one.

For us here on the Eastside of Cerritos, Heraeus is known as the “smokestack” across from a hamburger joint.

But, what’s going on INSIDE the plant? What’s really in that smoke? What’s that awful smell?

Our wonderful Eastside Cerritos neighborhood was listed on June 25, 2009 by the EPA as having the worst toxic air in the United States. We are “Ground Zero” according to this report. We can handle the truth. We just need to know what the truth IS, and what WE need to do to take this matter into our own hands.

The City of Cerritos is talking about this Company, Heraeus, thank goodness. Check out http://www.cerritos.us/ for more information on what our city leaders are saying about this situation.

One city councilman here in Cerritos sent out an email this week telling resident’s “not to panic,” that our air here isn’t really isn’t that “bad” compared to other areas in Los Angeles County. Huh? Not “that bad?” Give me a break, Joe.

For years we have endured thick rotten smelling white smoke spewing into our East Cerritos neighborhood from the dozens of stacks from Heraeus and other manufacturing companies within the Alondra Boulevard/Carmenita Road/ Firestone Frontage Road area.

The EPA has also listed at least SEVEN additional companies as being “harmful” polluters. I am now calling this area the “Toxic Triangle.”

Like clockwork, “The Toxic Triangle” stacks start blasting around 9:30 p.m., and continues to spew into the wee hours of the morning. Grab your camcorders and start rolling footage for yourself. You will be stunned what you actual watch.

Hereaus has employees working 24/7. They never stop working. I hope the employees of this company ask hard questions of their management.
We need real experts to investigate this situation.
We don’t need elected officials telling us their opinions about this situation in political emails.

We need scientific data and tests, and conversations, not “duck and cover” from elected officials.

The next time a politician sends you and email telling you not to panic about the air here in Cerritos, grab your telephone and call him or her and start demanding facts.

Hey, I hear they have clean air in Boron, California. Who knew!
Stay Tuned.

Drop me a note to RREconomy@aol.com

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AQMD Investigation Finds "No Significant" Air Toxic Risk at Heraeus, but EPA hasn't confirmed data

I just watched the Cerritos City Council Meeting and wanted to post this Notice from the South Coast Air Quality Management District about the recent EPA study showing the Eastside of Cerritos as having the "most toxic air" in America. It needs to be pointed out that the EPA did not investigate, nor comment about the results on this below AQMD "air test" from the Heraeus plant located at Alondra and Carmenita Road in Santa Fe Springs. More to follow. Randy Economy

July 9, 2009
Following U.S. EPA Toxics Report Results of air monitoring tests from a metal processing facility in Santa Fe Springs show that it does not pose a significant cancer risk to the surrounding community, South Coast Air Quality Management District officials said today.

During the last week of June, AQMD collected air samples at Heraeus Metal Processing Inc. at 13429 Alondra Blvd. in Santa Fe Springs and in nearby Cerritos. Samples were analyzed for the presence of hydrazine, a toxic chemical used in rocket fuel and a wide range of industrial applications.

The analysis showed that the facility currently emits less than two pounds per year of hydrazine. Computer modeling of these emissions shows that they would result in a maximum lifetime cancer risk in the community of 0.5 in 1 million. That is 20 times lower than the threshold for public notification (10 in 1 million) and 50 times lower than the threshold for reducing toxic emissions and health risk (25 in 1 million) both required by AQMD rules.

“These results have shown that this facility does not pose a significant cancer risk to Cerritos or the community surrounding the plant,” said Barry Wallerstein, AQMD’s executive officer.

The potential for toxic risk in Cerritos attracted attention after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) report on June 24. It found that residents in one portion of Cerritos experienced a 1,244 in 1 million cancer risk, assuming a lifetime of exposure, primarily due to hydrazine emissions from Heraeus. That risk was more than 30 times the national average according to the EPA report.

Following announcement of the report, AQMD immediately dispatched field inspectors and engineers to the facility. They confirmed that hydrazine is introduced into equipment in a closed system where it reacts with solution to form harmless compounds in the metals recovery process. AQMD source testing engineers took air samples from air-pollution-control exhaust stacks at Heraeus and also from outdoor air downwind in Cerritos.

“We have agreed to work closely with EPA prior to the release of its next National Air Toxics Assessment report to ensure that any facilities identified with elevated cancer risk are verified with accurate emissions, source testing and inspection reports,” Wallerstein said.EPA’s NATA report appears to contain outdated information when compared to actual facility emissions today. For example, the next three facilities in the report causing the highest cancer risk in the region have been out of business or have no reported emissions since at least 2001.

In addition, the report stated that Heraeus emitted 1,250 pounds of hydrazine in 2002 when in fact the facility has not reported that amount of annual emissions since about 1991 when it was operated by a previous owner, PGP Industries Inc. Since calculations of emissions at that time were crude in comparison to today’s methods, AQMD officials now are trying to determine if the facility ever emitted that much hydrazine. Based on the facility’s operations history, its actual emissions in 2002 and possibly as early as 1991 were likely similar to today’s emissions of less than two pounds per year of hydrazine.
AQMD last year released the final report for its Multiple Air Toxics Exposure Study (MATES III), a landmark study of toxic air pollution in the South Coast Air Basin. Unlike EPA’s report, MATES III used the latest emissions data from facilities as well as tens of thousands of air samples collected during a 24-month period. The study found the average cancer risk across the region is about 1,200 in 1 million during a lifetime exposure. It also found that about 84 percent of the cancer risk is due to diesel fuel combustion from trucks, trains and ships. (Cancer risk from diesel was not included in EPA’s NATA report.) The highest cancer risk levels in MATES III were found in areas of elevated diesel exhaust including near freeways, rail yards and the ports.

AQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

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Breaking News: District Attorney Serves Search Warrants at Pico Rivera City Councilman Ron Beilke's house, business and City Hall office

PICO RIVERA COUNCILMAN RON BEILKE IS UNDER FORMAL INVESTIGATION BY THE LA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
Search Warrents Served Today at embattled Councilman's residence, business, and at City Hall.

This just in from the Whittier Daily News. Amazing developments regarding "alleged" political corruption at Pico Rivera City Hall. Stay tuned.
Randy Economy

District Attorney serving search warrants on Pico Rivera Councilman Ron Beilke
By Tim Traeger and Mike Sprague, Staff Writers
Posted: 07/09/2009 12:00:42 PM PDT

PICO RIVERA - The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office served search warrants on Thursday at three locations concerning Councilman Ron Beilke, according to Pico Rivera Sheriff's Capt. Michael Rothans.
Rothans said his department was alerted by the D.A.'s office that search warrants were being served at City Hall, 6615 S. Passons Blvd., Beilke's Der Wienerschnitzel restaurant, 6749 S. Rosemead Blvd., and at Beilke's residence in the 9000 block of Aero Drive.

He did not know why the search warrants were being served. "We really don't get involved with their investigations," Rothans said. Pico Rivera Assistant City Manager Jeffrey Prang confirmed D.A's office personnel were searching Beilke's office at City Hall at 10:30 a.m. Thursday but did not know why.

Two people wearing shirts identifying them as District Attorney agents were seen at the Der Wienerschnitzel at 11:50 a.m.

Inside Heraeus: A look at a video called "The Heraeus Code"

It literally only took around 5 minutes...but one of my readers in Germany sent me this "inside" view of the local controversial company "Heraeus."

The WORLD WIDE WEB truly is amazing. I never under estimate the power of people communicating in every corner of the world on issues that effect our entire planet.

Heraeus has been named by the US Environmental Protection Agency has being responsible for spewing the toxin HYDRAZINE into our East Cerritos air. This promo clip is called the "Heraeus Code." I watched this, and now I am totally convinced that our bedroom community of Cerritos, California is NOT the proper location for this type of business to be located here. BTW...Heraeus is located at Alondra and Carmenita....in the City of Santa Fe Springs.

Heavy duty manufacturers need to be located AWAY from bedroom communities...not in the MIDDLE of them.

Send this clip to your friends, and ask them what they think about this matter. The conversation continues, and thanks for being part of the BIG picture.

Thanks, again for your readership, and keep those clips coming!! RREconomy@aol.com

Randy Economy

Wednesday night: Smoke continues from Heraeus into Eastside of Cerritos

Image via Wikipedia

Tonight at 9:08 p.m., right after sunset, thick white smoke was being emitted into the Eastside Cerritos, California air from the PGP Industries Heraeus Plant located at the corner of Carmenita Road and Alondra Boulevard in the City of Santa Fe Springs.

This plant is the location, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, the South Coast Air Quality Management Distict and the City of Cerritos as being the source that has emitted dangerous levels of the toxin Hydrazine into our air.

If you have photos you want to share from inside this location...email them to RREconomy@aol.com. No questions asked.

Randy Economy

Toxic HYDRAZINE over East Cerritos: SFS company Heraeus denies it is cause of possible cancer risks, Press Telegram Reports

Randy Economy EXCLUSIVE PHOTO

I wanted to pass this BREAKING NEWS from the Long Beach Press Telegram, regarding Cerritos, California's recent ranking as "America's Most Toxic City" by the EPA (see below).

Also....on Monday night, July 7, 2009 at 9:40 p.m., I witnessed 6 smoke stacks from the Heraeus Plant spewing thick white smoke into the air that smelled of rotten eggs.

The smoke, and odor is now a nightly ritual here on the Eastside of Cerritos. Where is the EPA during these night hours when the Heraeus smoke stacks are raging into our bedroom community? Is the South Coast AQMD sending investigators into the Heraeus plant in the middle of the night? When will Cerritos residents be mailed information to tell us about this situation? Why hasn't the City of Santa Fe Springs issued any comments about these toxic polluters that are located in their city limits?Here is tonight's photo of the thick smoke that blows directly into the Eastside of Cerritos. If you have pictures from inside the Heraeus Plant, send me a copy of the photos to my email at RREconomy@aol.com BTW....Kelly Puente from the LB Press Telegram wrote this below article, that appears in Wednesday's edition of the PT.
RrE

Plant denies being source of Cerritos cancer risk
By Kelly Puente, LB Press Telegram
Tuesday, July 8, 2009
SANTA FE SPRINGS - A Santa Fe Springs metal processing plant under investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency denies being the source of a possible cancer risk in a Cerritos neighborhood back in 2002.

Heraeus Metal Processing Inc., 13429 Alondra Blvd., is under investigation after figures in an EPA report released June 24 showed a small Cerritos neighborhood as having the highest cancer risk in the nation.

EPA officials, however, have since said that data from the report was prematurely leaked to the media and the information was old - possibly dating back to the early 1990s. Moreover, the South Coast Air Quality Management District has said they have not found any indication of higher cancer risks in Cerritos.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the EPA and the AQMD were still investigating the plant at the Santa Fe Springs/Cerritos border, said AQMD spokesman Sam Atwood.

Curtis Mello, vice president of compliance for Heraeus, said the company is cooperating fully with the investigation. "The EPA's data related to our site is completely erroneous," Mello said on Tuesday. "We fully expect that to come out in the next week or so."

The report said that more than 95 percent of the toxins in the area came from the chemical hydrazine, a liquid used in rocket fuel and chemical manufacturing.

In a statement, Heraeus said the company utilizes hydrazine in its industrial process, but the chemical is used in a "closed system," and the by-products go through equipment that controls the release of toxins into the atmosphere.

"(Heraeus) operates a state-of-the-art facility that complies with all permitting requirements of EPA and the South Coast Air Quality Management District," the statement said.

The City of Cerritos is expected to hold a town hall meeting on the issue some time at the end of the month.

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