C&H Sugar Company agrees to settlement following odor emissions

A historic East Bay company that generated the foul stench of sewage odor that polluted a town’s air has settled a lawsuit with Contra Costa County prosecutors for approximately $500,000, authorities said Tuesday.

C&H Sugar, whose plant has been a staple in the unincorporated city of Crockett since 1906, committed the odor violations in 2022 at a wastewater treatment plant it jointly owns at Dowrelio Drive, according to a statement from the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office. They added that the company agreed to pay $400,000 in civil penalties and $100,000 in costs.

“C&H Sugar was cooperative throughout the process and agreed to specific enhanced compliance measures,” District Attorney Diana Becton said in a statement.

The company will purchase and install a backup generato, replace existing diffuser heads in all three reactors, and upgrade the the “blowers” including the replacement or refurbishment of the motors. Authorities said C&H also agreed to a complete comprehensive internal audit of operations and to establish a 24-hour toll-free community hotline.

The violations happened between Sept. 8 and Oct. 14, 2022. According to authorities, operational disruptions at the wastewater plant generated excessive sewage odors that affected residents. Unusually high temperatures exacerbated the problem.

The then-Bay Area Air Quality Management District investigated and referred the case to Becton.

“Working with BAAQMD during this process produced a compliance framework to help prevent future public nuisances,” she said.

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