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 June: COMPANY: Chevron U.S.A., El Segundo TYPE OF BUSINESS: Oil refinery PENALTY: $174,500 VIOLATION: Failure to repair leaky valves; operating surge and waste water tanks contrary to permit conditions; failure to obtain a permit to operate a crude oil production separation facility and a vapor recovery system at its Castaic facility. COMPANY: Madison Industries, Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS: Metal canopies and metal buildings manufacturer PENALTY: $60,000 VIOLATION: Excessive hydrocarbons from paint and solvent usage; failure to maintain daily usage records. COMPANY: Reichold Chemical, Azusa TYPE OF BUSINESS: Synthetic resin producer PENALTY: $27,500 VIOLATION: Failure to obtain a permit to operate a chemical storage tank for non-exempt solvents. COMPANY: MJ Agramonte Enterprises, (M&J; Desk Manufacturing Co.), Industry TYPE OF BUSINESS: Furniture manufacturer PENALTY: $25,000 VIOLATION: Excessive hydrocarbons from coating operations; altering equipment without a permit. COMPANY: Narmco Materials, subsidiary of BASF Corp., Anaheim TYPE OF BUSINESS: Manufacturer of structural adhesives for aerospace industry PENALTY: $14,500 VIOLATION: Venting of gases due to failure to install vapor recovery lines in four tanks. COMPANY: Chemical Waste Management, Fremont TYPE OF BUSINESS: Environmental consulting and soil remediation management firm PENALTY: $8,000 VIOLATION: Excavating contaminated soil at the Port of Los Angeles’ Terminal Island facility without an AQMD-approved plan. COMPANY: General Motors Service Parts Operation, Santa Fe Springs TYPE OF BUSINESS: Service parts warehouse and distributor PENALTY: $5,000 VIOLATION: Failure to submit an AQMD-approved ride-sharing plan. COMPANY: George Industries, Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS: Aluminum metal finishing firm PENALTY: $5,000 VIOLATION: Excessive visible emissions. COMPANY: Lee Escher Oil Co., Coachella TYPE OF BUSINESS: Gasoline and oil sales PENALTY: $5,000 VIOLATION: Exceeding the 20,000-gallon limit on gasoline deposited into its storage tanks. COMPANY: Shepherd Machinery Co., Whittier TYPE OF BUSINESS: Earthmoving equipment sales and service firm PENALTY: $3,500 VIOLATION: Failure to submit an AQMD-approved ride-sharing plan.