Issuance of a Standardized Permit to Unique Premium Metals Inc.

2006068062

Department of Toxic Substances Control

NOE - Notice of Exemption

6/9/2006

6/9/2006

Amber Harmon

Department of Toxic Substances Control

Lead/Public Agency

700 Heinz Avenue, Suite 200
Berkeley, CA 94710-2721

(510) 540-3779

Other

Section 15061(b)(3)

(1) UPM is an existing facility and has been conducting their business at the project site since 1991. UPM leases an office suite located on the seventh floor of a high-rise building in the downtown Los Angeles jewelry district. It is located in the building called St. Vincent Center which is on South Hill Street between West Sixth Street and West Seventh Street. The building is designated as a Commercial Zone (C5), which permits Jewelry Manufacturing. The majority of businesses in the building are jewelry retailers and manufacturers. As UPM's operation is incidental to and arises from permissible jewelry manufacturing and related operations on the property, it is deemed as customarily incidental and therefore permissible use of the property by the City of Los Angeles. (2) UPM is located in downtown Los Angeles and is surrounded by a well-developed urban setting, so no agricultural, cultural, or biological resources will be impacted by UPM's operations. (3) The project will not require any new construction, and thus will have no impact on geology and soils, mineral resources, hydrology and water quality, or cultural resources. (4) The project will not hire any new employees; therefore there will be no impact to public services, population and housing, or recreation. (5) There will be no impact to utilities and service systems. The project is in an existing building and the infrastructure in this developed business district is adequate to support the utility usage of UPM. No additional services will be required to support this ongoing operation. (6) The only potential impact to air quality is the operation of the two kilns, which have integral afterburners to reduce/eliminate any potentially harmful emissions. These kilns have been approved and permitted by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, so thus the air quality shall not be negatively affected. (7) The jewelry polishing dust is hazardous because it is a fine powder with elevated levels of metal, thus it is an inhalation risk. The only hazards of the process itself would be for the employees, either inhaling the dust or burning themselves with the hot furnace or material. These hazards are mitigated by using protective equipment and work practices. (8) The volume of waste that UPM manages is small. Typically, the incoming dust is received in small containers, most of which are generated in the same building as UPM. Due to the small quantities, the generators are able to bring the dust to UPM by hand. On average, four customers come in per day, some of whom will transport the dust in their personal vehicle. UPM sends out a maximum of four shipments per month, using a registered hazardous waste transporter. Therefore there is no impact on traffic and transportation. (9) The Los Angeles Fire Department has inspected UPM and found no violations; therefore, the equipment and processes are in compliance with the fire code and do not pose a fire hazard to the building. (10) All of the storage and treatment activities at UPM are conducted inside the existing building, out of public view. There are no outdoor lights. Therefore there is no impact to aesthetics. (11) An enclosed room was built around the ball mills to reduce noise transmission to the exterior of the facility. Thus there is no impact on noise.