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 Baxter Healthcare Corp. Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS Health care facility PENALTY $35,000 VIOLATION Excavation of an inactive landfill without a permit; improper handling and removal of asbestos-containing material during excavation. COMPANY Thrifty Oil Downey TYPE OF BUSINESS Gasoline station PENALTY $23,000 VIOLATION Failure to maintain a vapor recovery system; operating without a valid permit at various locations. COMPANY Union Bank Panorama City TYPE OF BUSINESS Bank PENALTY $23,000 VIOLATION Failure to submit an AQMD-approved ride-sharing plan. Money to be spent on employee ride-sharing incentives over a one-year period. COMPANY Harden Industries Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS Decorative brass manufacturer PENALTY $20,000 VIOLATION Excessive hydrocarbons from spray-painting operations. COMPANY ABB Composites Inc. Irvine TYPE OF BUSINESS Plastic tube manufacturer PENALTY $18,333 VIOLATION Operating a spray-painting booth contrary to permit conditions; excessive hydrocarbons from solvent use. COMPANY All American San Bernardino TYPE OF BUSINESS Spray painter of football helmets PENALTY $16,450 VIOLATION Excessive hydrocarbons from coating operation; operating a spray-painting booth contrary to permit conditions. COMPANY Northrop Corp., Aircraft Division Hawthorne TYPE OF BUSINESS Aircraft manufacturer PENALTY $16,000 VIOLATION Operating a spray-painting booth contrary to permit conditions; excessive hydrocarbons from coatings and solvent use; failure to maintain adequate daily use records. COMPANY California Offset Printers Glendale TYPE OF BUSINESS Printing shop PENALTY $15,600 VIOLATION Excessive hydrocarbons from coatings and solvent use; excessive oven temperatures; operating a lithographic printing press contrary to permit conditions. COMPANY Union Pacific Resources Co. Wilmington TYPE OF BUSINESS Oil producer PENALTY $12,000 VIOLATION Failure to obtain permits to operate four caustic scrubbers. COMPANY Lunday-Thagard Oil Co. South Gate TYPE OF BUSINESS Asphalt refinery PENALTY $10,000 VIOLATION Liquid and vapor leaks from a valve; faulty seals on a storage tank.