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 October: COMPANY: Security Environmental Systems, Long Beach TYPE OF BUSINESS: Waste disposal firm PENALTY: $15,000 VIOLATION: Excessive particulate matter from a waste incinerator, operating incinerator without a permit, violating operating conditions set in an abatement order. COMPANY: B.K.K. Corp., West Covina TYPE OF BUSINESS: Waste management firm PENALTY: $8,000 VIOLATION: Odor violations from its landfill, failure to submit an AQMD-approved ride-sharing plan on time. An additional $5,000 will be spent to augment its landfill monitoring program and equipment. COMPANY: ARCO, Carson TYPE OF BUSINESS: Refinery PENALTY: $12,500 VIOLATION: Excessive odors released from sour water separation and a coker flare, causing complaints among workers at the Intermodal Container Transport Co. warehouse located downwind. COMPANY: Astech Division, Alcoa, Santa Ana TYPE OF BUSINESS: Aerospace component maker PENALTY: $12,500 VIOLATION: Failure to submit a revised AQMD-approved ride-sharing plan on time, after two previous plans were disapproved. COMPANY: Golden West Refining Co., Santa Fe Springs TYPE OF BUSINESS: Refinery PENALTY: $7,000 VIOLATION: Odors and valve leaks. COMPANY: Mayoni Enterprises, Pacoima TYPE OF BUSINESS: Vending machine maker PENALTY: $6,000 VIOLATION: Failure to keep proper records of oven temperatures and coating usage, violating permit conditions on coating use. The business operator has also agreed to attend an AQMD compliance training course. COMPANY: Reliance Manufacturing, Placentia TYPE OF BUSINESS: Metal storage tank fabricator PENALTY: $4,700 VIOLATION: Violating permit conditions involving coating and solvent use. COMPANY: Columbia Pacific Aluminum Corp., City of Industry TYPE OF BUSINESS: Aluminum extruder PENALTY: $4,500 VIOLATION: Failure to revise and resubmit an AQMD-approved ride-sharing plan on time, after the initial plan was disapproved. COMPANY: Koch Carbon, Long Beach TYPE OF BUSINESS: Bulk loading facility PENALTY: $2,250 VIOLATION: Dust emissions from insufficiently controlled petroleum coke piles at Reeves Field, Terminal Island. COMPANY: B.F.M. Transport Dynamics, Santa Ana TYPE OF BUSINESS: Bearing and ground support equipment maker PENALTY: $2,000 VIOLATION: Failure to submit an adequate AQMD-approved ride-sharing plan, after its plan was disapproved twice.
