'You can't even breathe': Regulators cite Lineage over putrid odor of rotting meat spreading in Boyle Heights

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Set us as preferred Air regulators have slapped Lineage Logistics with multiple violations related to the putrid odor at its Boyle Heights facility after receiving more than 720 complaints from residents since Sunday.So far this week, the South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued five notices of violations to the company as it works to remove 85 million pounds of rotting food from the burned remains of its cold storage warehouse.

Lineage began cleanup of the site on July 6 and its Chief Operating Officer Jeff Rivera said at a town hall meeting last week that the company was moving as quickly as possible with a goal of beating the 45-day timeline set by L.A.Mayor Karen Bass to complete the process.

It remains unclear when all the meat will be removed, but the company is taking steps to mitigate the odor by wrapping most of the building in a temporary material and using misting systems.According to residents, those efforts have failed to stop the nauseating smell emanating from the rotting food and feasting vermin from wafting around the neighborhood, making it difficult for children to play outside and those living nearby to breathe at times.AQMD initially received 57 complaints describing rotten, sour, and garbage-type odors in the area on Sunday.

Inspectors confirmed the odors were coming from the warehouse and issued Lineage an initial notice for violation of public nuisance rules.Since then the complaints, and violations, have continued to stack up, just as a summer heat wave settled over the region.

AQMD received 54 complaints Monday, 151 complaints Tuesday, 264 complaints Wednesday and more than 200 as of 8 p.m.Thursday, according to a district spokesperson.

A representative for Lineage did not respond to a request for comment on the violations.Climate & Environment Boyle Heights activists are calli...