WASHINGTON - Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following statement concerning the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) announcement that it has signed a binding agreement with Western Environmental Inc. and Waste Reduction Technologies to eliminate harmful odors that have plagued the community of Mecca, California.

Senator Boxer said: "The most important thing is to protect the health and safety of local families, which is the reason for this action by EPA. I will only be satisfied when Western Environmental has eliminated the source of the noxious odors that have made some area residents sick. I am fully committed to closely monitoring the clean up process to ensure that the problem is resolved once and for all, and that the community is protected from harmful air pollution in the future."

###