BFI SAYS AIR QUALITY MONITORING SET TO GO.

Byline: Jason Kandel Staff Writer

GRANADA HILLS - A system that would monitor air quality could be set up within weeks at Van Gogh Elementary School near Sunshine Canyon Landfill, a spokesman for the landfill's operator said Monday.

James Aidukas, a project consultant with Browning-Ferris Industries, told about 50 community residents of his company's plans at a Granada Hills North Neighborhood Council Organizing meeting held at the school.

``As soon as we get concurrence from the school district that we can set it up here, it will be ready to set up within weeks,'' Aidukas said of the system to monitor air quality at the school. ``If we get the go-ahead tomorrow, we can have it out here within seven days.''

The system is part of mitigation measures BFI is required to perform for the Sunshine Canyon Landfill.

At the meeting, residents peppered Aidukas with questions about what the system would record, who would collect the data, and how often the data would be checked.

Aidukas said the system would record black carbon particulates and wind speed and direction from equipment set up in cargo trailers at Van Gogh.

Data on how much dirt and grime is found in the air will be downloaded into a database every two weeks.

The plans come after residents and school officials requested that BFI evaluate the potential for small airborne particles from diesel or dust at the school.

The city of Los Angeles imposed a condition requiring BFI to monitor air quality at the school for particles the size of 10 microns or smaller before and during operation of the expansion of the landfill.