Firms to Face Fines on Toxic Materials Plans

Thousands of Los Angeles businesses that have failed to submit plans to deal with hazardous materials emergencies will be notified next week that they are in violation of state law and face $5,000-a-day fines, fire officials said Thursday.

The notices will warn 3,893 firms using hazardous materials that they have 30 days to comply with the California Health and Safety Code that set Jan. 1 as a plan deadline. About 500 others will be told that their plans are incomplete. The letters will be mailed Tuesday.

“If they don’t comply, they will be prosecuted,” Assistant Fire Chief James W. Young told the Fire Commission at its regular weekly meeting.

In all, according to Young, about 8,000 city businesses have enough hazardous materials on their premises to require them to file business plans, which are reviewed and kept on file to aid firefighters. About half of the firms have submitted plans.

Each plan includes a list of hazardous materials used, what to do in an emergency, an employee training program and a map of the business’ layout. The information is used by firefighters responding to fires or other emergencies.

A fire at a Lincoln Heights metal-plating firm in late May prompted Fire Chief Donald O. Manning to order stepped-up enforcement of the law. The fire chased 11,000 people from their homes.

The company, Builder’s Hardware Finishers, had not filed a plan for dealing with 26,000 gallons of hazardous materials, including cyanide, stored at the site, the Fire Department said.

When thousands of other firms also were found to have failed to file plans, Manning ordered the Fire Department’s hazard materials section to notify delinquent firms of possible legal action if they do not comply.

Manning told reporters at the time that the Fire Department’s hazardous materials staff had been “overwhelmed” by the job of reviewing and storing plans in a computer. He promised to add additional workers to assist with the work.

The law requires businesses with hazardous materials amounting to more than 500 pounds, 55 gallons or 200 cubic feet to file a plan and pay a fee, which is used to finance the program.

Fees can range up to $3,000 for an “extra heavy” manufacturer, fire officials said, but they estimated that more than 80% of the businesses that must prepare plans will be charged $193 or less.