After a closed session during the Irvine City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 22, Irvine City Manager Oliver Chi reported that the city may be one step closer to removing the All American Asphalt facility from city land.

“As we’ve announced previously, we’re currently engaged in a dialog with AAA related to the city’s lawsuit against that particular company. The context of our discussions have involved the relocation of the AAA plant out of Irvine as a condition of any possible settlement that we do enter into,” Chi said. “I’m happy to report that we are cautiously optimistic that the conversations are progressing in a positive manner to effectuate the council’s policy objective, which ultimately is the removal of AAA from the city here, moving ahead.”

The news comes after years of growing concerns from North Irvine residents who question the potential toxicity and related health risks of noxious odors being produced by a nearby asphalt production facility. 

While residents have protested the asphalt production site for years, there is little the city of Irvine has done to address concerns, up until recently.  

With hundreds of reports of a foul odor from nearby residents to the South Coast Air Quality Management District over the past few years, the Irvine City Council moved to take steps to regulate truck routes and mandated load coverings. 

Yet, residents say it is not enough.

In January, the All American Asphalt facility received three odor violations in less than two weeks. 

Last year, Senator Dave Min spoke to Irvine Weekly after the council requested his assistance in updating legislation for the asphalt industry. 

“The law is the law. As I’ve said, for us to change that law would require us to look pretty deeply at some of these issues around what is the right concentration, and it would have to be something of uniform applicability,” Min said. “It would be a long time coming, honestly — but we couldn’t just target this plant.” 

Min has been vocal on the issue and has since suggested Irvine end this situation by purchasing the land. 

Last month, during the City Council meeting on February 22, the council ordered the staff to pursue a settlement with All American Asphalt.

On Tuesday, March 29, Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan spoke to Irvine Weekly regarding the ongoing process, which has called for a reduction in asphalt production in Irvine. Khan added that the council will update the city as soon as more information becomes available.

“The city has been working with All American Asphalt for quite some time now. And most recently, the council directed the City Manager to negotiate a settlement agreement which includes: reducing production, continuous monitoring, and relocation of the facility,” she said. “As soon as we have confirmed these negotiations, we will bring this item to the council for public discussion.”

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