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 October: COMPANY: Tishman West Companies (Los Angeles) TYPE OF BUSINESS: High-rise buildings management firm PENALTY: $120,000 VIOLATION: Failure to obtain permits to operate internal combustion engines; excessive nitrogen oxide emissions from those engines. COMPANY: McDonnell Aircraft Co. (Palmdale) TYPE OF BUSINESS: Aerospace firm PENALTY: $28,950 VIOLATION: Excessive hydrocarbons from a spray painting booth and from its primer; excess vapor pressure from solvents. COMPANY: Sanwa Bank (Monterey Park) TYPE OF BUSINESS: Financial institution PENALTY: $25,000 VIOLATION: Failure to submit ride sharing plan. COMPANY: Wright Terminals (Long Beach) TYPE OF BUSINESS: Gasoline wholesaler PENALTY: $16,500 VIOLATION: Failure to maintain vapor recovery systems on gasoline dispensing equipment; operating equipment contrary to permit conditions. COMPANY: AAA Advance Finishing (Los Angeles) TYPE OF BUSINESS: Computer parts coating firm PENALTY: $15,000 VIOLATION: Excessive hydrocarbons from spray painting booths. COMPANY: Hughes Aircraft Co. (El Segundo, Canoga Park sites) TYPE OF BUSINESS: Aerospace firm PENALTY: $15,000 VIOLATION: Operating hot oil solder reflow tanks without a permit; installing reflow tanks and degreasers without a permit to construct; excessive hydrocarbons from spray painting booths; altering scrubbers contrary to permit conditions. COMPANY: Nelco Products Inc. (Anaheim) TYPE OF BUSINESS: Manufacturer of fiberglass copper laminates used in circuit board industry PENALTY: $7,500 VIOLATION: Failure to vent mixing tanks to air pollution control units, contrary to permit requirements. COMPANY: Madison Industries (Los Angeles) TYPE OF BUSINESS: Steel and sheet metal manufacturer PENALTY: $7,000 VIOLATION: Operating spray painting booths without permits; excessive hydrocarbons. COMPANY: Abbey Signs (Gardena) TYPE OF BUSINESS: Sign manufacturer PENALTY: $5,000 VIOLATION: Installing and operating coating and baking equipment without permits. COMPANY: International Power Technology Inc. (Ontario) TYPE OF BUSINESS: Energy management firm PENALTY: $4,400 VIOLATION: Excessive nitrogen oxide emissions from a co-generation unit.
