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 May: COMPANY Somitex Prints of California Industry TYPE OF BUSINESS Polyester fabrics printer PENALTY $50,000 VIOLATION Re-routing duct work without a permit; operating equipment contrary to permit conditions; excessive hydrocarbons from dyeing process; excessive visible emissions. COMPANY R.D. Builders Orange, and Groundwater Technology Torrance TYPE OF BUSINESS General contractor for excavating underground gasoline storage tanks; soil monitoring and sampling firm PENALTY $15,500 VIOLATION Failure to notify the AQMD within 24 hours of detection of gasoline-contaminated soil at a Tarzana site; failure to: properly monitor excavated soil for gasoline contamination, cover contaminated soil, implement mitigation measures and comply with permit conditions. COMPANY ARCO Petroleum Products Co. Carson TYPE OF BUSINESS Oil refinery PENALTY $13,800 VIOLATION Vapor recovery compressor breakdown; vapor leaks at butane loading stations; excessive hydrocarbons and visible emissions; operating a gasoline storage tank contrary to permit conditions. COMPANY Professional Refinishing Organization Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS Metal coating firm PENALTY $8,000 VIOLATION Excessive hydrocarbons from solvent usage. COMPANY Texaco Inc. Berth 84, Long Beach TYPE OF BUSINESS Oil tanker operator PENALTY $5,000 VIOLATION Public nuisance violation due to excessive smoke and soot from ship’s smokestack, including soot deposits on a nearby auto lot. COMPANY Coastcast Corp. Gardena TYPE OF BUSINESS Stainless steel parts manufacturer PENALTY $4,000 VIOLATION Excessive smoke and odors from a steel melting furnace. COMPANY Avante Designs South Gate TYPE OF BUSINESS Wood furniture manufacturer and designer $3,500 Operating a spray painting booth contrary to permit conditions. COMPANY Lapidus Popcorn Maywood TYPE OF BUSINESS Popcorn processor PENALTY $3,500 VIOLATION Failure to obtain a permit to operate a diesel dispensing facility. COMPANY BFI Hospital Waste Systems of California Huntington Beach TYPE OF BUSINESS Waste treatment company PENALTY $3,000 VIOLATION Public nuisance violation due to odors from a medical waste incinerator. COMPANY Ferguson Door Co. Gardena TYPE OF BUSINESS Airplane hanger door manufacturer PENALTY $3,000 VIOLATION Excessive hydrocarbons from open-air spray painting of metal parts.