Casanova neighborhood raises air‑quality alarm; county field observation finds soot, staff to seek outside studies

Residents of the Casanova (sometimes referenced as Casanova/Kasanova) neighborhood told the Monterey City Council they have observed black soot accumulation and intermittent jet‑fuel odors for years and want independent air‑quality studies to determine health impacts.

City staff summarized recent follow‑up after a neighborhood letter. The county Environmental Health Bureau performed a physical observation and documented dark soot on residential stone walls and multiple aircraft operations during the visit; staff reported localized exhaust detectable during active scanning but no strong odors during the observation. Monterey Bay Air Resources District (MBARD) representatives told staff they can investigate stationary industrial sources but do not have authority over mobile aviation emissions. Staff said the airport district indicated federal law restricts local agencies from imposing independent aircraft emission standards and requested future studies distinguish aviation from non‑aviation sources.

Residents asked the city to pursue additional testing and documentation. "I've gone in my backyard, been unable to take a breath," said neighborhood president Richard Relo, describing strong kerosene smells at times. Other residents noted a historical underground contaminant plume tied to past airport activities and asked for updated well testing and the previously agreed five‑year monitoring to be followed up.

City staff said the county expects to finalize an observational report and that staff will request a formal written response from the airport district and consider referrals to state or federal agencies (for example, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry or California’s Environmental Health Investigation Branch) for detailed health or air‑quality assessments.

What happens next: staff will share the county field report with residents, ask the airport district for a written response, and coordinate any agency referrals and follow‑up steps once the county’s report is finalized.