Bombay Beach is an artisan hamlet on the east side of the Salton Sea, dotted with rusted trailers, abandoned cars and pop-up art installments. First: The Salton Sea at Bombay Beach on Feb. 4, 2023.

Social and environmental groups sued last year saying the $1.8 billion Hell’s Kitchen project could cause water and air problems not disclosed in its environmental impact report. A judge disagreed.

These surges in pollution typically last one or two days, which may be why state air regulators hadn’t previously considered soil emissions a significant source of pollution near the Salton Sea.

The Salton Sea is nearly twice as salty as the ocean, laden with agricultural runoff and susceptible to algal blooms that spew hydrogen sulfide, a noxious gas.It’s also a haven to more than 400 ...