TOP AIR POLLUTION PENALTIES

The information for this listing was unavailable for several months.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District has responsibility to control air pollution in the area. It has the power to seek court-imposed fines against polluters of from $25 to $25,000 a day based on such factors as the extent that emissions exceed legal limits, the potential danger to the public, whether the violation was intentional, accidental or due to negligence and the company’s history of violations. These are the 10 highest penalties paid in March:

COMPANY: Powerine Oil Co., Santa Fe Springs TYPE OF BUSINESS: Oil refinery PENALTY: $177,750 VIOLATION: Repeated instances of emitting hydrocarbons contrary to permit conditions; public nuisance violation due to odors. COMPANY: Sammons & Sons, Lynwood TYPE OF BUSINESS: Storage rack manufacturer PENALTY: $12,000 VIOLATION: Failure to obtain permits for spray painting operations. COMPANY: American Electronics, Fullerton TYPE OF BUSINESS: Electronics firm PENALTY: $4,800 VIOLATION: Excessive hydrocarbons from operating spray painting equipment contrary to permit conditions. COMPANY: Chevron USA, El Segundo TYPE OF BUSINESS: Oil refinery PENALTY: $4,200 VIOLATION: Excessive hydrocarbons COMPANY: JBL Inc., Northridge TYPE OF BUSINESS: Audio electronics firm PENALTY: $4,200 VIOLATION: Excessive hydrocarbons from spray painting operations. COMPANY: Weber Nameplate, Santa Ana TYPE OF BUSINESS: Sign manufacturer PENALTY: $2,800 VIOLATION: Failure to obtain a permit for and failure to keep records on solvent usage. COMPANY: Grace Equipment Co., San Bernardino TYPE OF BUSINESS: Equipment retailer PENALTY: $2,400 VIOLATION: Failure to obtain a permit to install an air compressor. COMPANY: Texaco USA, Indio TYPE OF BUSINESS: Service station PENALTY: $2,250 VIOLATION: Failure to obtain a permit for gasoline pumps. COMPANY: Solder Station One Inc., Santa Ana TYPE OF BUSINESS: Soldering firm PENALTY: $2,000 VIOLATION: Failure to obtain a permit to operate. COMPANY: Desert Valley Citrus, Indio TYPE OF BUSINESS: Citrus packing firm PENALTY: $1,800 VIOLATION: Failure to obtain a permit to operate degreening rooms.