Fugitive dust and the long history of equipment breakdown, exceeded operating hours, exceeded throughput, etc. are the main frustrations and these are definitely within the AQ Division's purview.

An important piece of information is how that plant got in there in the first place. Oral history from the residents of the neighborhood alleges that the zoning was changed without proper notification of the neighbors. If so, the system has already failed the neighborhood and paved the way for this inappropriate industrial expansion.

The neighborhood has a history of getting screwed by the system. This is a moment where the Environmental Health Department could finally do the right thing.

The Air Quality Division has the latitude to attach substantial conditions to the permit. Here's a case where, at the very least, fenceline monitoring should be mandated. There should be zero fugitive dust. Chunks of cement in the swamp cooler pan? Not cool. We'll see what the Division decides to do. Sure would be nice to be pleasantly surprised for a change.

Fugitive dust and the long history of equipment breakdown, exceeded operating hours, exceeded throughput, etc. are the main frustrations and these are definitely within the AQ Division's purview.

An important piece of information is how that plant got in there in the first place. Oral history from the residents of the neighborhood alleges that the zoning was changed without proper notification of the neighbors. If so, the system has already failed the neighborhood and paved the way for this inappropriate industrial expansion.

The neighborhood has a history of getting screwed by the system. This is a moment where the Environmental Health Department could finally do the right thing.

The Air Quality Division has the latitude to attach substantial conditions to the permit. Here's a case where, at the very least, fenceline monitoring should be mandated. There should be zero fugitive dust. Chunks of cement in the swamp cooler pan? Not cool. We'll see what the Division decides to do. Sure would be nice to be pleasantly surprised for a change.

Fugitive dust and the long history of equipment breakdown, exceeded operating hours, exceeded throughput, etc. are the main frustrations and these are definitely within the AQ Division's purview.

An important piece of information is how that plant got in there in the first place. Oral history from the residents of the neighborhood alleges that the zoning was changed without proper notification of the neighbors. If so, the system has already failed the neighborhood and paved the way for this inappropriate industrial expansion.

The neighborhood has a history of getting screwed by the system. This is a moment where the Environmental Health Department could finally do the right thing.

The Air Quality Division has the latitude to attach substantial conditions to the permit. Here's a case where, at the very least, fenceline monitoring should be mandated. There should be zero fugitive dust. Chunks of cement in the swamp cooler pan? Not cool. We'll see what the Division decides to do. Sure would be nice to be pleasantly surprised for a change.

Fugitive dust and the long history of equipment breakdown, exceeded operating hours, exceeded throughput, etc. are the main frustrations and these are definitely within the AQ Division's purview.

An important piece of information is how that plant got in there in the first place. Oral history from the residents of the neighborhood alleges that the zoning was changed without proper notification of the neighbors. If so, the system has already failed the neighborhood and paved the way for this inappropriate industrial expansion.

The neighborhood has a history of getting screwed by the system. This is a moment where the Environmental Health Department could finally do the right thing.

The Air Quality Division has the latitude to attach substantial conditions to the permit. Here's a case where, at the very least, fenceline monitoring should be mandated. There should be zero fugitive dust. Chunks of cement in the swamp cooler pan? Not cool. We'll see what the Division decides to do. Sure would be nice to be pleasantly surprised for a change.

And also, in a broader context, because many of the frustrations expressed by neighbors–about the noise and the traffic–may heavily impact their quality of life, but air quality is the only thing the Air Quality Division is allowed to consider when deciding whether or not to approve a permit.

Right now, you're pretty much right. As long as applicants can demonstrate that they're within standards, AQ's hands are tied. What could change? The standards could be tightened. Or the entire process could be changed to combine air quality, noise and traffic…

The answer: We have to wait until ambient air quality standards are so bad that *nobody* gets a permit. Until then, everybody gets their permit. It's insane.