Local News in Brief : Firm Gets $10,000 in Pollution Fines

A metal plating company located just north of Los Angeles International Airport was fined $10,000 Thursday and placed on three years’ probation after pleading no contest to 15 misdemeanor violations of air quality regulations.

MPC Plating Inc., which does business as Modern Plating Co. at 5400 W. 104th St., was charged with leaving a hydrochloric acid storage tank partially uncovered, among other violations.

The open tank could have allowed toxic fumes to escape into the air, Los Angeles City Atty. James K. Hahn said. In addition, other sources of toxic fumes at the plant, where air pollution control equipment was either faulty or not being properly operated, “could have posed a serious health threat to anyone in the plant area,” he said.

Hahn said faulty air pollution control devices were found on tanks being used for chrome and nickel plating. Inspectors also found systems used for nickel evaporation, sludge drying and waste water treatment being operated without required permits from the South Coast Air Quality Management District.