Hyperion Update

City Manager's Report from the
October 17, 2023 City Council Meeting

At the recent October 17^th City Council meeting, the City Manager provided an update on the situation with the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant, which is owned and operated by the City of Los Angeles. The full Hyperion Update can be viewed here.

• BILL AB-1216: Wastewater Treatment Plants: Monitoring of Air Pollutants

• On October 10^th, Governor Newsom signed Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi’s bill AB 1216: Wastewater Treatment Plants, Monitoring of Air Pollutants into law. This means that effective January 1, 2027, Hyperion is required to conduct regular source monitoring for nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, to monitor at its fence-line for pollutants of concern, including hydrogen sulfide, and to share that fence-line monitoring data with the public in real time.

  • For more information about the importance of this bill, read the full press release: Governor Newsom Signs Bill AB 1216 into Law.

• Track the bill's most recent language and status here.

•  AQMD
  

  • AQMD responded to approximately 65 odor complaints in the past two weeks and issued a Notice of Violation for odor related public nuisance on October 7^th.

  • AQMD is still evaluating findings from an on-site inspection regarding air quality regulation compliance. As soon as AQMD provides the results of those findings we will share them on our website.
• HYPERION ACTIVITY

  • Tuesday October 17^th and Thursday, October 19^th, Hyperion is testing its emergency generators.

    • Some odors may be released during the test as the odor control devices will be shut down for about 15 minutes. This testing is essential to ensure resilient operations of the plant in the event of a power outage. Click the links below for more information about the emergency generator testing at the IPS and Headworks.

  • The next Hyperion Citizens Forum is scheduled to take place via zoom on Thursday, October 26^th from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

    • Registration to attend this meeting is required in advance. Details on how to register can be found on the Hyperion page of the City’s website.

  • Planned exercise of the 1-Mile Outfall Gate was successfully conducted on September 28, 2023.

  • Hyperion continues the replacement of tank covers for Batteries C and B that is expected to be completed in December of 2023.

• Dr. Michael K. Stenstrom, Wastewater Treatment Plant Expert, continues to track Hyperion's progress implementing the 33 recommendations from the Hyperion Ad Hoc Committee formed after the July 2021 spill and is working on creating an internal dashboard for the City.
• The Hyperion Ad Hoc Committee comprised of Councilmember Carol Pirsztuk, Councilmember Ryan Baldino, and Environmental Committee Chair Tracey Miller-Zarneke continue to meet with City Manager.

The most up to date information on the situation with Hyperion can be found on the City's website at www.elsegundo.org/hyperion.

Governor Newsom Signs Bill AB 1216 into Law, Requiring the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant to Indefinitely Monitor Air Quality for Pollutants

Monitoring Results Must be Shared with the Public in Real Time

On October 10, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi’s bill AB 1216: Wastewater Treatment Plants, Monitoring of Air Pollutants into law. Bill AB 1216 requires wastewater treatment plants in the state of California which meet certain criteria — specifically, the Hyperion Wastewater Treatment Plant — to conduct regular monitoring for nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at the source, and to install, operate, and maintain a fence-line monitoring system to track emissions of pollutants of concern, including hydrogen sulfide. Additionally, the bill requires that fence-line data be shared with the public in real time. All monitoring must follow the standards set forth by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). “The City, our community members, along with SCAQMD and L.A. County Department of Public Health, have been fighting for this for over two years since Hyperion’s nearly catastrophic spill,” said Mayor Drew Boyles. "Now, thanks to Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi’s bill AB 1216, our current and future generations will be able to answer the question – are the emissions from the Hyperion plant safe to breathe?” Click here to read the full press release.

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Hyperion Updates

Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant is owned and operated
by the City of Los Angeles.