The noxious odors coming from mixing asphalt at a Granite Construction facility led to complaints from neighbors and the evacuation of nearby schools.
The Pima County Department of Environmental Quality ordered the company on Friday to cease producing asphalt at the company's Swan Road Plant, 9301 S. Swan Road, the department said in a news release.
Beginning Thursday, the department, Southwest Gas, 911, and poison control received "heavy volumes of calls from individuals reporting the odor and expressing health concerns," the news release said. As a precaution, schools in the area were temporarily evacuated.
Officials with various local agencies worked with the department to find the source of the odors. They determined the Granite Construction plant was the source and issued an order of abatement, the news release said.
"PDEQ will work with Granite Construction to resolve this asphalt odor issue so the company can continue its work while protecting public health," the news release said.
