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 December: COMPANY: Ford Aerospace Corp. Newport Beach, Irvine sites TYPE OF BUSINESS: Defense contractor PENALTY: $250,000 VIOLATION: Operating spray painting booths contrary to permit conditions; excessive hydrocarbons; failure to keep adequate records of daily paint usage. COMPANY: Hamilton Fixture West, Brea TYPE OF BUSINESS: Shelf manufacturer PENALTY: $60,000 VIOLATION: Excessive hydrocarbons. COMPANY: J.D. Bertolini Industries, Compton TYPE OF BUSINESS: Metal chassis and frame manufacturer PENALTY: $30,000 VIOLATION: Operating spray painting equipment contrary to permit conditions; spray painting violations resulting in excessive hydrocarbons. COMPANY: Trans World Airlines, Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS: Airline PENALTY: $25,000 VIOLATION: Failure to submit an AQMD-approved ride-sharing plan. COMPANY: Century City Marriott, Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS: Hotel PENALTY: $15,000 VIOLATION: Failure to submit an AQMD-approved ride-sharing plan. COMPANY: General Switchgear Inc., Santa Fe Springs TYPE OF BUSINESS: Manufacturer of electrical equipment PENALTY: $7,500 VIOLATION: Excessive hydrocarbons from spray painting operations. COMPANY: Continental Polymers Inc., Compton TYPE OF BUSINESS: Manufacturer of acrylic plastic resins PENALTY: $5,000 VIOLATION: Release of vapors from failing to provide proper ventilation for an afterburner. COMPANY: Midwest Coatings Inc., Orange TYPE OF BUSINESS: Paint manufacturer PENALTY: $5,000 VIOLATION: Selling containers of paint thinner without printing information about hydrocarbon content on the labels. COMPANY: A-1 Signal Division, Alhambra TYPE OF BUSINESS: Traffic signal manufacturer PENALTY: $3,800 VIOLATION: Excessive hydrocarbons from painting operation. COMPANY: Armed Forces Reserve Center, Calif. Military Dept., Los Alamitos TYPE OF BUSINESS: Military base PENALTY: $3,000 VIOLATION: Operating equipment without permits; emissions from cleaning solvents exceeding opacity limits; failure to maintain an episode monitor and a vapor recovery system for gasoline tanks; failure to prevent vapor loss from underground fuel tanks.
