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 August: COMPANY: Atlas Truck Bodies, Ontario TYPE OF BUSINESS: Truck painting and repair firm PENALTY: $20,000 VIOLATION: Excessive hydrocarbons from coating and solvent use contrary to permit conditions, failure to maintain usage records. COMPANY: Chevron USA, El Segundo TYPE OF BUSINESS: Refinery PENALTY: $20,000 VIOLATION: Failure to maintain seals in a floating roof tank. COMPANY: Ralphs Grocery Co., Compton TYPE OF BUSINESS: Grocery chain PENALTY: $20,000 VIOLATION: Failure to submit AQMD-approved ride-sharing plans in a timely manner for its Compton and Los Angeles sites. COMPANY: Kirkhill Rubber Co., Brea TYPE OF BUSINESS: Rubber product manufacturer PENALTY: $11,500 VIOLATION: Violating permit conditions on two curing ovens. COMPANY: Pacific Industrial Service Corp., Long Beach TYPE OF BUSINESS: Waste-hauling firm PENALTY: $11,000 VIOLATION: Public nuisance and permit violations from odors released by a sludge press at Golden West Refinery in Santa Fe Springs. COMPANY: Guy Chaddock & Co., Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS: Furniture maker PENALTY: $10,500 VIOLATION: Excessive hydrocarbons from spray-painting operations, failure to keep usage records. COMPANY: Wood Textures Inc./Lifestyle of California, Irvine TYPE OF BUSINESS: Wood furniture finisher PENALTY: $10,000 VIOLATION: Excessive hydrocarbons from spray-painting operations. COMPANY: Artesia Dyeing, Finishing & Printing, Carson TYPE OF BUSINESS: Fabric dyeing and printing firm PENALTY: $9,100 VIOLATION: Violating conditions set in a variance agreement on various dates, black smoke emissions. COMPANY: Stone Container Corp., Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS: Bag and container maker PENALTY: $8,000 VIOLATION: Failure to submit an AQMD-approved ride-sharing plan in a timely manner. COMPANY: Gray Line/Starline Tours, Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS: Bus tours company PENALTY: $7,500 VIOLATION: Excessive hydrocarbons from idling buses. COMPANY: Saks Fifth Avenue, Woodland Hills TYPE OF BUSINESS: Department store PENALTY: $7,500 VIOLATION: Failure to submit an AQMD-approved ride-sharing plan in a timely manner.