TOP AIR POLLUTION PENALTIES

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 June: COMPANY: GAF Building Materials Corp., Irwindale TYPE OF BUSINESS: Building materials manufacturer PENALTY: $15,000 VIOLATION: Failure to control nitrogen-oxide emissions from a furnace COMPANY: Appliance Industries, Harbor City TYPE OF BUSINESS: Appliance manufacturer PENALTY: $5,000 VIOLATION: Excessive hyrdrocarbons from metal-painting operation COMPANY: Orange County Sanitation District, Fountain Valley TYPE OF BUSINESS: Landfill PENALTY: $5,000 VIOLATION: Burning sulfur compounds in excess of District limits COMPANY: Redco II, North Hollywood TYPE OF BUSINESS: Construction and horticulture parts manufacturer PENALTY: $5,000 VIOLATION: Excessive particulate and carbon monoxide emissions COMPANY: Southern California Edison, Long Beach TYPE OF BUSINESS: Utility PENALTY: $5,000 VIOLATION: Operating spray painting booth without a permit to construct; operating two others without valid permits to operate COMPANY: GNB Inc., Vernon TYPE OF BUSINESS: Battery manufacturer PENALTY: $2,500 VIOLATION: Operating sulfur dioxide scrubbers and gas furnace contrary to permit conditions COMPANY: Creative Coatings, Gardena TYPE OF BUSINESS: Silkscreen materials manufacturer PENALTY: $2,000 VIOLATION: Operating spray painting equipment contrary to permit conditions COMPANY: Dico Co. Inc., Corona TYPE OF BUSINESS: Trailer manufacturer PENALTY: $2,000 VIOLATION: Operating a spray painting booth contrary to permit conditions; exceeding daily paint usage limits COMPANY: L.A. Sani-Felt Co., Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS: Cotton batting materials manufacturer PENALTY: $2,000 VIOLATION: Emitting white fibrous material containing volatile organic compounds. COMPANY: Hochberg Bros.-Schan of California Inc., Industry TYPE OF BUSINESS: Furniture finishing firm PENALTY: $1,700 VIOLATION: Excessive hydrocarbons from painting operation; operating spray painting booth contrary to permit conditions