COUNTYWIDE : Supervisors to Study Paint Pollution Issue

New standards designed to reduce air pollution from oil-based paints will be considered Tuesday by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors.

The standards would ban certain kinds of oil-based paints that generate hazardous emissions when the paint dries.

After a strong protest from the paint industry, the supervisors delayed a decision on the matter last week to give staff members time to revise the guidelines.

Industry representatives and painting contractors have said the guidelines would actually increase pollution by forcing them to use lower-quality paints, twice as much that would be needed to complete a job.

They also complained that the paint industry has not had enough time to develop high-quality alternatives.

In response, Supervisor Susan K. Lacey suggested that the county postpone for one year a ban on quick-dry enamels, primers, sealers and undercoats. She also suggested a two-year delay on a ban affecting some lacquers.

Organic solvents evaporate as paint dries, producing 4.6% of the hydrocarbons released into the county’s air. The standards are expected to reduce by one ton a year the amount of hazardous emissions released into the air.

TOXIC DISCHARGES Under the state Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, Ventura County must report each week the toxic and potentially toxic materials discharged. The discharges are investigated by the county Environmental Health Division.

DATE: Jan. 30 LOCATION: C & R Blueprint, 104 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura MATERIAL: 100 gallons silver sludge DATE: March 13 LOCATION: Shell Co., 3587 N. Ventura Ave., Ventura MATERIAL: Unknown amount of oil DATE: March 18 LOCATION: Santa Ana and Burnham roads, Oak View MATERIAL: Unknown amount of propane gas DATE: March 18 LOCATION: Pacific Coast Highway and Padre Juan Canyon, Malibu MATERIAL: Unknown amount of oil and water DATE: March 18 LOCATION: Foreign Auto Service, 1369 S. Saviers Road, Oxnard MATERIAL: 10 gallons of waste oil DATE: March 18 LOCATION: 3491 Mission Oaks Blvd., Camarillo MATERIAL: 5 gallons of photographic chemicals DATE: March 18 LOCATION: Shiells Canyon Field, Fillmore MATERIAL: 10 barrels of crude oil DATE: March 18 LOCATION: Temescal Field, Piru MATERIAL: 23 barrels of crude oil DATE: March 18 LOCATION: Ventura Field, Ventura MATERIAL: 3 barrels crude oil DATE: March 19 LOCATION: La Estrella Bakery, 156 Channel Islands Blvd., Oxnard MATERIAL: 30 gallons of waste water DATE: March 19 LOCATION: 905 South A St., Oxnard MATERIAL: 5 gallons of waste water DATE: March 20 LOCATION: Ventura County Jail, 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura MATERIAL: 6,100 gallons of sewage DATE: March 21 LOCATION: 360 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai MATERIAL: Unknown amount of asoline DATE: March 22 LOCATION: Oil field seven miles northwest of Ventura Avenue, Ventura MATERIAL: 4 barrels of crude oil and water DATE: March 22 LOCATION: Sanjon Road and Harbor Boulevard, Ventura MATERIAL: Unknown amount of sewage