TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - The Pima County Department of Environmental Quality has issued an "Order of Abatement" to the Granite Construction to cease production of asphalt after receiving a large volume of calls from individuals reporting an odor and expressing health concerns on Thursday.
Beth Gorman, Senior Program Manager with the Pima County Department of Environmental Quality says that production will cease until Granite can operate without causing odors.
Several schools in the area were temporarily evacuated as a precaution.
PDEQ has worked with Tucson Fire Department, Tucson Airport Authority and other agencies to pinpoint the source of the odor and sent an inspector to investigate, said Gorman.
Staff met with employees and determined the odor was coming from a mix of asphalt being used.
Gorman says that since the odor has been affecting a significant portion of individuals in the area, PDEQ has issued an "Order of Abatement" to Granite Construction Co. to stop production of the asphalt until the cause of the odor can be diminished.
The Granite Construction Co., Swan Road Plant is located at 9301 S. Swan Road.
