TOP AIR POLLUTION PENALTIES

The South Coast Air Quality Management District has responsibility to control air pollution. It can 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, 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 top penalties in April: COMPANY: Laidlaw Gas Recovery Systems, Inc., Newark TYPE OF BUSINESS: Gas-recovery firm PENALTY: $30,000 VIOLATION: Failure to maintain the temperature of a gas-burning flare; exceeding flow-rate limits; failure to submit a performance test; failure to keep adequate records at its gas-recovery facility in Irvine. COMPANY: Cigna Healthplans of California, Glendale TYPE OF BUSINESS: HMO PENALTY: $25,000 VIOLATION: Failure to submit an AQMD-approved ride-sharing plan. COMPANY: Pauly Inc., Commerce TYPE OF BUSINESS: Office furniture manufacturer PENALTY: $25,000 VIOLATION: Excessive hydrocarbons from paint usage and from solvent content in paints; using non-complying equipment contrary to permit conditions. COMPANY: OHM Corp., Anaheim TYPE OF BUSINESS: Landfill excavation management firm PENALTY: $19,000 VIOLATION: Excavating contaminated soil in Long Beach without an AQMD-approved plan or a valid permit COMPANY: Century Marble, Pomona TYPE OF BUSINESS: Marble products manufacturer PENALTY: $10,000 VIOLATION: Failure to keep adequate records. COMPANY: Greater El Monte Community Hospital, South El Monte TYPE OF BUSINESS: Hospital PENALTY: $10,000 VIOLATION: Failure to submit an AQMD-approved ride-sharing plan. COMPANY: Swift-Cor Engineering, Gardena TYPE OF BUSINESS: Sheet metal manufacturer PENALTY: $10,000 VIOLATION: Exceeding limits on the solvent content of primer applied to aircraft parts. COMPANY: Ganahl Lumber, Anaheim TYPE OF BUSINESS: Lumber company PENALTY: $9,500 VIOLATION: Failure to submit an AQMD-approved ride-sharing plan. COMPANY: Fernando’s Foods Corp., Compton TYPE OF BUSINESS: Food supplier PENALTY: $8,000 VIOLATION: Failure to submit an AQMD-approved ride-sharing plan. COMPANY: Southern California Auto Auction, Fontana TYPE OF BUSINESS: Auto auction firm PENALTY: $7,800 VIOLATION: Failure to submit an AQMD-approved ride-sharing plan.