Local News in Brief : Sun Valley Firm Charged With Dumping Toxic Wastes in Sewer

The Los Angeles city attorney’s office Wednesday filed misdemeanor charges against the owner of a Sun Valley company, accusing him of dumping toxic wastes in the sewer system.

Named in the 30-count complaint is Photo Chem Etch Corp., which manufactures flexible circuits and heat sinks at 7714 San Fernando Road, and its owner, Surya P. Shrivastava, 46, of Sun Valley.

City sanitation officials began investigating the plant after receiving an anonymous telephone tip in January about the possible illegal disposal of toxic wastes in the sewers, City Atty. James K. Hahn said.

Investigators installed testing devices in the sewers upstream and downstream from the factory and detected acids and heavy metals in excess of legal limits as well as volatile organic solvents, which are prohibited in any quantity.

Investigators obtained a search warrant and raided Photo Chem Etch on March 24. During that raid, a number of violations of state laws regulating hazardous materials were discovered, “including the fact that wastes were running to the sewer through trenches in the floor, rather than pipes,” Deputy City Atty. Vincent B. Sato said.

The complaint alleges 21 violations of city law prohibiting the disposal of hazardous materials in the sewers and nine violations of state law regulating toxic waste disposal.

Each violation of city law is punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine. Each violation of state law carries a fine of no less than $5,000 or more than $100,000 for each day the violation occurred.

Shrivastava, who was unavailable for comment, is to be arraigned Dec. 29 in Los Angeles Municipal Court.