Residents near the intersection of Blue Diamond and Jones in Las Vegas are grappling with an ongoing issue: a significant amount of dust coming from a nearby rock quarry operated by Las Vegas Paving.
Local residents expressed their frustrations about the effects of this dust on their daily lives and health.
Angelica Peraza, a resident in the area, highlighted the constant cleaning she faces due to the dust.
“I literally wash my cars almost every day. In my house, I have to clean the railings, the windows, cause there’s dust every day,” she explained.
Peraza also reported severe respiratory challenges as a result of the dust, particularly due to her asthma.
“You can’t even breathe. It’s like sneezing, I’m wheezing,” Peraza added, illustrating the toll it takes on her health.
During a recent visit to her home, she pointed out the visible layers of dust gathering on her kitchen and bedroom windows, as well as her balcony.
“It’s like we are outside, living outside,” she remarked, highlighting the severity of the problem.
Delon Bebar, who lives just a few houses down from Peraza, echoes similar sentiments regarding the dust issue.
“Allergies and the cleaning, cause you can’t—you have to vacuum. You can’t just wipe it,” he stated, reflecting on the additional burden placed on residents.
To combat the persistent dust, Bebar has taken various measures in his home.
“Put extra netting, we have real good air filters. We had to do the door seals, re-seal them,” he explained.
He noted that while air filters are typically changed every three months, he opts to do it every 30 days instead.
Residents have sought to address these concerns directly with Las Vegas Paving, but they report that the company insists they are complying with all regulations.
Peraza feels there is more that could be done to alleviate the dust issue, calling for sensible practices from the quarry operators.
“Cover them with something at night when it’s windy. In the daytime, don’t grind that much. They just have to be a little bit more reasonable with the population here,” she argued.
Bebar agreed and suggested that the quarry could implement more effective dust mitigation methods.
“They should be able to do a little bit more, you know, a little bit more water or something,” he added.
Efforts to reach Las Vegas Paving for a comment have been ongoing, but as of now, no response has been received.
The county confirmed that Las Vegas Paving Corporation is classified as a Stationary Source and issued a Synthetic Minor Source Permit under Section 12.1 of the Air Quality Regulations (AQRs).
These permits are valid for five years, with the latest one issued on November 2, 2023, and set to expire on November 1, 2028.
Additionally, Las Vegas Paving holds a portable minor source permit for equipment stored at this site.
The county also mentioned that Sections 41 (fugitive dust rule) and 26 (opacity rule) of the AQRs apply if dust or emissions from the facility are observed.
The Division of Air Quality enforces compliance with these regulations, urging residents to report any suspected violations through their Dust and Odor Hotline at 702-385-DUST.
The county indicated that they would respond to complaints within 24 hours, underscoring their commitment to addressing the concerns of affected residents.
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