Consultants tell Parlier council odor alone isn't evidence of health hazard; assessments to follow

Armando Hurtado, a project manager with SCS Engineers, told the Parlier City Council on Jan. 18 that cannabis cultivation emits common plant-derived chemicals including terpenes and volatile sulfur compounds, and that "odor detection does not equate to health concerns." The presentation was requested after complaints from residents and school staff about an odor near Greenbrier Holdings operations.

SCS Engineers, which described itself as an independent third-party consultant working for Greenbrier Holdings, outlined a two-part approach: chemical monitoring using EPA methods and community odor panels run with an olfactometer and trained volunteers. Hurtado said emissions vary with plant life cycle, harvest and processing activities, and meteorological conditions, so short-term odor reports do not establish a consistent health risk.

"Odor detection does not equate to health concerns," Hurtado said, adding that SCS has not measured compounds above OSHA, EPA or NIOSH health standards at cannabis facilities it has tested. He described terpenes and volatile sulfur compounds as common to many plants and foods and noted that no continuous machine exists to replicate human odor perception; SCS therefore pairs lab chemistry with community olfactory panels.

Council members and residents asked specifically about odors reported at nearby schools and retail sites such as Family Dollar. Resident Sandra Alvarez and others described headaches and morning episodes of concentrated odor. Hurtado said mitigation options can include timing harvests for favorable wind patterns, carbon filtration, misters or vegetative buffers for outdoor operations, and facility-specific standard operating procedures for dispensaries.

Hurtado said SCS began site visits in October 2023 and will develop an odor assessment and abatement plan for Greenbrier Holdings. Councilmember Diego Garza and others urged the firm to return with findings and recommended actions targeted to protect schoolchildren and nearby residents.

Next steps: SCS will complete its assessment and present recommended mitigation measures to the council and community; council staff and Greenbrier were asked to facilitate on-site access and community updates.