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 July: COMPANY: Northrop Advanced Systems Division, Pico Rivera TYPE OF BUSINESS: Aerospace firm PENALTY: $250,000 VIOLATION: Numerous record-keeping, coating and adhesive violations. An additional $200,000 was placed in the AQMD’s general fund, to be returned to Northrop in $50,000 increments upon completion of each leg of a compliance plan calling for internal audits, staff training and improved coating processes. COMPANY: Unocal Refining & Marketing, Brea, La Mirada, Wilmington sites TYPE OF BUSINESS: Refinery, chemical plants PENALTY: $244,950 VIOLATION: Numerous record-keeping, tank seal and permit condition violations; excessive carbon monoxide emissions at chemical division in Brea; excessive hydrocarbons at chemical plant in La Mirada; leaking tank and smoking flare violations at refinery in Wilmington. COMPANY: Trend Offset Printing, Los Alamitos TYPE OF BUSINESS: Printer PENALTY: $55,000 VIOLATION: Excessive smoke; record-keeping and permit condition violations. COMPANY: Aurora Modular Industries, Perris TYPE OF BUSINESS: Modular facility maker PENALTY: $40,000 VIOLATION: Excessive hydrocarbons from coating of portable modular classrooms; failure to obtain permits to operate three airless spray guns and a tar kettle. COMPANY: NBC, Burbank TYPE OF BUSINESS: Television network PENALTY: $25,100 VIOLATION: Numerous coatings violations while painting wood scenery props; excessive hydrocarbons from spray-painting operations; inadequate record-keeping; failure to obtain permits to operate spray-painting booths. COMPANY: Glendale Unified School District, Glendale TYPE OF BUSINESS: School district PENALTY: $25,000 VIOLATION: Failure to submit AQMD-approved ride-sharing plans for Glendale, Hoover and Crescenta Valley high schools and the District Administrative Center. Money to be spent on employee ride-sharing incentives at 27 schools. COMPANY: Maness Excavating & Grading, Long Beach TYPE OF BUSINESS: Excavation firm PENALTY: $22,500 VIOLATION: Failure to notify the AQMD of intent to demolish a commercial building in Santa Ana; improper handling of asbestos. COMPANY: The Bumper Shop, Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS: Bumper repair shop PENALTY: $15,000 VIOLATION: Using bumper primer with a pollutant content exceeding AQMD limits. COMPANY: Westline Manufacturing, Orange TYPE OF BUSINESS: Furniture maker PENALTY: $12,500 VIOLATION: Excessive hydrocarbons from coating and solvent use. COMPANY: Distinctive Appliances, Pasadena TYPE OF BUSINESS: Kitchen stove manufacturer PENALTY: $12,000 VIOLATION: Violating permit conditions on two coating-spray booths and a powder-coating curing oven.