Burbank Charges Firm in Toxic Dumping

The city of Burbank has filed charges against a metal-plating company suspected of dumping cyanide-contaminated materials into trash bins and sewer lines while in the process of moving to a new location.

Burbank City Attorney Juli Scott said Artcraft Plating and Finishing Company has been cited for 38 health and safety code violations, which include illegal disposal, storage and transportation of hazardous materials.

Also named in the charges are Artcraft’s owner, Larry Barker; his wife, Kathleen Barker, vice president of the firm; and their son, James Barker, plant manager.

“As far as we know, we haven’t done anything wrong,” said James Barker, who declined to comment further on the charges.

Marty Kasman, a deputy health officer with the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, said the violations were discovered during a three-month investigation of the company that began in January.

Kasman said county health inspectors were tipped off by the Burbank Fire Department. He said firefighters became suspicious of possible health code violations by Artcraft after responding to a false fire alarm at the plant in the 100 block of Verdugo Avenue. While inside the building, firefighters “smelled some funny odors, became suspicious of what was going on, and contacted our office,” Kasman said.

During the investigation, county health investigators saw Artcraft employees dumping contaminated materials into three trash bins while the company was in the process of moving to its new location on Santa Anita Avenue, Kasman said. It was later revealed that the company was also disposing of hazardous wastes through sewer lines, he said.

If convicted, the corporation and its officers face fines ranging from a minimum of $68,000 to a maximum of $1.2 million, and up to 34 years in prison.