The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued an imminent and substantial endangerment order to Lawson Brother's Enterprises to stop the facility from burning solid waste at its Thermal, Calif., site.
The site -- in an air pollution non-attainment area for fine particulate matter and ozone – is violating a federal law banning open burning. Under the order, the facility must stop the open burning of solid waste, install fencing and warning signs, and identify and mitigate the dangers caused by open burning.
In 1999 the EPA issued a notice of violation to the operators that was ignored. The EPA found elevated levels of dioxin at the site during inspections last spring.
Particulate matter includes dust, smoke, fly ash and condensing vapors that can be suspended in the air for long periods of time. When inhaled, these microscopic particles can lodge in the lungs and affect respiratory function. Chronic exposure to high levels of particulate matter can cause respiratory disease, lung damage and possibly premature death. The elderly, children, and people with chronic lung disease, influenza, and asthma are especially sensitive to high levels of particulate matter.