Schnitzer Steel issued 2 violations for Oakland fire that prompted Bay Area-wide advisory

WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT THE SCHNITZER STEEL FACILITY IN OAKLAND, WHICH RELEASED LARGE PLUMES OF SMOKE. BRIAN BREVE RIDGE WHO LIVES A HALF-MILE AWAY, SO THE IMPACT GOES FAR BEYOND OAKLAND. >> ONE OF MY STAFF MEMBERS THAT LIVES IN ALAMEDA SAYS HE SMELLED IT STRONGLY LAST NIGHT. IT WAS NAUSEATING. REPORTER: BEVERAGES THE COEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WEST OAKLAND ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS PROJECT, A GROUP FOCUSED ON AIR QUALITY. >> ONE THE PILE CATCHES FIRE, IT IS NOT LIKE A CAMPFIRE. IT IS A FIRE OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS, PLASTICS, RUBBER, AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE HARDLY TOXIC -- HIGHLY TOXIC. REPORTER: IT TREADS CARS AND METALS FOR RECYCLING. THE AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT ISSUED AN ADVISORY WHICH LASTED THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING. IT HAD A CREW ON SCENE ALONG WITH THE EPA TO MONITOR AND INVESTIGATE. >> WITH ANY TYPE OF FIRE WHETHER IT IS A MATERIALS FIRE OR WILDFIRE, THE ADVICE IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME. STAY INDOORS WITH THE WINDOWS AND DOORS CLOSED, IF YOU SMELL SMOKE. REPORTER: THE PLANT IS LOCATED HALF A MILE AWAY FROM RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS, MADE UP OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WHO DEALT WITH THE AFTERMATH OF FIRES OVER THE LAST DECADE FROM THE FACILITY. THE COMPANY REACHED A $4 MILLION SETTLEMENT WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IN 2021 FOR RELEASING PARTICULATE MATTER CONTAINING HAZARDOUS MATERIALSINTO THE ENVIRONMENT. HE UNDERSTANDS THE NATURE OF THE RECYCLING BUSINESS, BUT THERE ARE INDUSTRY STANDARDS IN PLACE TO HELP REDUCE TOXIC BYPRODUCTS OF THE BUSINESS. >> THESE ARE INDUSTRIES -- THINGS THE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN DOING FOR DECADES. THESE ARE THINGS THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO SOLVE. REPORTER: IN AN EMAIL, SCHNITZER STEEL RIGHTS, WE ARE FOCUSED ON OPERATING RESPONSIBLY. THE COMPANY HAS MADE INVESTMENTS IN REMISSION CONTROLS AND STORMWATER TREATMENT TO MITIGATE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF OUR RECYCLING ACTIVITIES. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNKNOWN. THE ORGANIZATION PLANS TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT IN THE ONGOING EFFORT TO -- FOR TIGHTER REGULATIONS. >> WE ARE A NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION. WE WILL DO THE BEST WE CAN TO PUSH FOR JUSTICE IN THE SITU

Channel: ABC7 News Bay Area

Views: 1,881

Keywords: news, schnitzer steel notice of violation, oakland fire, smoke oakland, schnitzer steel, port of oakland, air quality advisory bay area, jack london square, oakland smoke plume, embarcadero west, schnitzer steel fire

Id: _SBfpKkcX8E

Length: 2min 20sec (140 seconds)

Published: Fri Aug 11 2023