TOP INDUSTRIAL POLLUTERS

There are 37 industrial firms within the city of Los Angeles that violated federal and local pre-treatment standards by discharging illegal amounts of cyanide, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, silver, zinc and oil and grease in 1989, the most recent year available, according to the Department of Public Works. Eleven of the firms have violated federal pre-treatment standards; the other 26 have violated local discharge standards.

There are only 100 inspectors with the city Bureau of Sanitation who check water samples, and 8,000 firms with industrial discharge permits. Thirty of these inspectors check monthly samples from 500 significant users.

In 1989, the Bureau of Sanitation billed over $330,000 for city-incurred expenses that represent inspector man hours and laboratory and equipment costs. The fines imposed for felony violations are divided between the city, county and state. Here is a list of significant violators. Fines are imposed by city unless otherwise indicated. COMPANY All American Plating Corp. North Hollywood TYPE OF BUSINESS Metal finishing PENALTY Permit revoked, owners jailed, fined $31,000. STATUS Sewer sealed; out of business. COMPANY Diceon Electronics Chatsworth TYPE OF BUSINESS Electronics PENALTY Fined $600,000 by U.S.; $114,000 by city. STATUS Water treatment system upgraded. COMPANY Barlow Co. Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS Metal finishing PENALTY Probation; placed on compliance schedule. STATUS Water treatment system installed. COMPANY Burbank Plating Service Pacoima TYPE OF BUSINESS Metal finishing PENALTY Probation; placed on compliance schedule. Fined $19,500. STATUS Water treatment system installed. COMPANY Colgro Plating Works San Pedro TYPE OF BUSINESS Metal finishing PENALTY Three written notices of violation issued. STATUS Sewer sealed. COMPANY Industrial Wire Products Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS Iron and steel manufacturer PENALTY Probation; placed on compliance schedule. Fined $8,500. STATUS Sewer sealed. COMPANY M & R Plating N. Hollywood TYPE OF BUSINESS Metal finishing PENALTY Probation; placed on compliance schedule. Fined $11,800. STATUS Water treatment system installed. COMPANY Mercury Circuits North Hollywood TYPE OF BUSINESS Electronics PENALTY Probation; placed on compliance schedule. City fine pending. STATUS Water treatment system installed. COMPANY Pacific Glass Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS Mirror manufacturer PENALTY Three notices of violation issued. On probation. City fine pending. STATUS Water treatment system installed. COMPANY Rocket Wheel Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS Metal finishing PENALTY Probation; placed on compliance schedule. Fined $1,600. STATUS Water treatment system upgraded. COMPANY Triangle Brass Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS Metal finishing PENALTY Three notices of violation issued. Fine pending. STATUS Inconsistent compliance; enforcement pending. COMPANY West 6th & Broadway Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS Jewelry PENALTY Permit revoked. Fined $25,000 by U.S. and $34,000 by city. STATUS Water treatment system installed. COMPANY TGM Industries (Gene’s Pumping) Calabasas TYPE OF BUSINESS Septic tank pumping PENALTY Probation; no charges filed. Fined $15,000. STATUS Water system treatment installed. COMPANY A & C Electronics Northridge TYPE OF BUSINESS Electronics PENALTY Probation; placed on compliance schedule. City fine pending. STATUS Water treatment system installed. COMPANY 610 Broadway Associates Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS Jewelry PENALTY Probation; placed on compliance schedule. Fined $11,000; additional amount pending. STATUS Water treatment system installed. COMPANY Certified Cadmium Plating Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS Metal finishing PENALTY Probation; placed on compliance schedule. STATUS Recycling unit installed; sewer sealed. COMPANY Circuity Engineering Co. Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS Electronics PENALTY Probation; placed on compliance schedule. Fined $8,600. STATUS Water treatment system upgraded. COMPANY D & M Polishing Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS Metal finishing PENALTY Probation; placed on compliance schedule. STATUS Sewer sealed. COMPANY Electronics Seals Co. Van Nuys TYPE OF BUSINESS Metal finishing PENALTY Probation; placed on compliance schedule. City fine pending. STATUS Water treatment system installed. COMPANY Electro Adapter Canoga Park TYPE OF BUSINESS Metal finishing PENALTY Probation; placed on compliance schedule. City fine pending. STATUS Water treatment system installed. COMPANY Fansteel PSM Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS Sheet metal fabrication PENALTY Probation; placed on compliance schedule. STATUS Water treatment system upgraded. COMPANY G & L Plating Van Nuys TYPE OF BUSINESS Metal finishing PENALTY Three notices of violation issued. City fine pending. STATUS Inconsistent compliance; enforcement pending. COMPANY Garret Airsearch Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS Aerospace firm PENALTY Probation; placed on compliance schedule. STATUS Relocated. COMPANY Golden Plating Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS Metal finishing PENALTY Probation; placed on compliance schedule. Fined $32,000. STATUS Water treatment system installed. COMPANY Holly Decorations Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS Metal finishing PENALTY Probation; placed on compliance schedule. Fine pending. STATUS Water treatment system installed. COMPANY K.S. Fabric Care Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS Industrial laundry PENALTY Probation; placed on compliance schedule. Fined $9,600. STATUS Abandoned business. COMPANY Oakland Carburetor Exchange Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS Automotive repair PENALTY Probation; placed on compliance schedule. STATUS Recycling unit installed. COMPANY Price Pfister Pacoima TYPE OF BUSINESS Metal finishing PENALTY Probation; placed on compliance schedule. Fined $2,200; additional amount pending. STATUS Inconsistent compliance. Water treatment system upgraded. COMPANY Quality Processing Inc. Pacoima TYPE OF BUSINESS Metal finishing PENALTY Probation; placed on compliance schedule. Fine pending. STATUS Water treatment system installed. COMPANY Southern Pacific Co. Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS Railroad maintenance PENALTY Probation; placed on compliance schedule. STATUS Water treatment system installed. COMPANY Welches Uniform Rental Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS Industrial laundry PENALTY Probation; placed on compliance schedule. Fined $10,000. STATUS Sewer sealed and business relocated. COMPANY Bleau-Bush Co. Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS Metal cleaning PENALTY Three notices of violation issued. STATUS Secured sampling box installed. COMPANY Day & Knight Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS Metal finishing PENALTY Three notices of violation issued. STATUS Secured sampling box installed. COMPANY Dracon Industries Chatsworth TYPE OF BUSINESS Metal finishing PENALTY Three notices of violation issued. STATUS Water treatment system installed. COMPANY Entertainment Effects/Boss Films Marina del Rey TYPE OF BUSINESS Film processing PENALTY Three notices of violation issued. STATUS Water treatment system installed. COMPANY Sal’s Plating Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS Metal finishing PENALTY Three notices of violation issued. STATUS Process modification completed. Inconsistent compliance; enforcement pending. COMPANY Sidle’s Auto Repair Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS Automotive repair PENALTY Three notices of violation issued. STATUS Clarifier installed. The above companies are now in compliance unless otherwise noted. Source: Department of Public Works, Bureau of Sanitation