A judge approved a more restrictive written agreement earlier this week between Ventura County, Calif., and California Wood Recycling aimed at managing foul odors being emitted by the wood chipping and grinding facility.
The agreement substantially lowers the green-waste pile at the facility; reduces the time to process green waste to two days; and gives Wood Recycling a year to relocate.
Residents said they are happy with the nine-page stipulated agreement
"I think it's absolutely wonderful," said Roberta Walton, chairman of the Southbank Neighborhood Council on Monday.
Bill Camarillo, chief financial officer for Wood Recycling, said the company wants to relocate to a rural area on the Oxnard Plain about three to four miles from Highway 101 off Las Posas Road.
Camarillo also said the company is pleased with the agreement.
"I am happy," he said. "The neighbors are happy."
Superior Court Judge Frederick Bysshe held a brief hearing to sign the agreement and thanked the public for helping the court arrive at a "reasonable solution" to the odor problem.
This is the second such legal deal struck within three years between Wood Recycling and the county's Environmental Health Division.
This first agreement was spawned in 2001 by an out-of-court settlement after the county sued Wood Recycling for polluting the air.
This latest agreement comes after Bysshe ordered both sides to mediation to iron out the legal kinks of the 2001 agreement on how to process and verify odor complaints. The judge, who had listened to five days of testimony, said he was prepared to continue the hearings had the mediation failed.
Oxnard residents testified that the pungent, rotting-wood smell comes in waves, makes some ill, has disrupted their lives and lowered property values.
For its part, Wood Recycling admits odors drift off its site, but officials contend they are blamed for every foul smell that floats into north Oxnard neighborhoods and businesses along Highway 101. They contend the process to pinpoint the source of the stink is unfair, especially in an area that's become a cauldron of bad smells, with odors from a sewer plant, a mushroom farm, a waste-water treatment facility and manure spread on the agricultural fields.
Robert Gallagher, director of the Environmental Health Division, said the latest agreement's legal language is more precise and restrictive.
"I am quite pleased with it," he said.
He said the 2001 agreement allowed Wood Recycling to have a 30,000-cubic-yard waste pile. He said the latest agreement states that Wood Recycling must lower the pile gradually to 5,000 cubic yards by Sept. 2.
Also, the green waste must be processed within 48 hours; it used to take a few weeks to do so, Gallagher said.
Bysshe said he'll pick a compliance officer who will monitor the company and make sure it abides by the agreement. The compliance officer will report directly to the court, the judge said.
Gallagher said the target for Wood Recycling to relocate is May 1. He said the date could change if the company runs into hurdles getting plans and permits approved by county officials.
"Some of that is out of their (Wood Recycling) control," he said.
Southbank resident Travis Childress said most of the stink in that area will be gone after Wood Recycling relocates.
"Ninety percent of the odors will be gone," he said.
Camarillo said customers of Wood Recycling can expect a nominal increase in rates in the near future as a result of the relocation. Ventura County Star