The Dirty Half-Dozen

Following is a list of the six most severe air pollution penalties assessed by the South Coast Air Quality Management District in February, the most recent period for which information is available.. Company: Harte Hanks Communications, 2830 Orbiter St., Brea. Penalty: $12,500 Violation: The firm’s parent company, Harte Hanks California CDM of Mira Loma, was cited for failure to submit a trip-reduction plan and failure to offer employee ride-sharing incentives at its Brea and Mira Loma locations. In addition, the firm will also devote $50,000 of advertising space in its Pennysaver Newspapers to promote ride-sharing (marketing firm). Company: Los Alamitos Medical Center 3751 Katella Ave., Los Alamitos Penalty: $9,000 Violation: Failure to offer employee trip-reduction incentives and failure to submit an annual plan update (hospital). Company: Hellman Properties, First Street and Pacific Coast Highway, Seal Beach Penalty: $4,000 Violation: Vapor leaks from oil well equipment and for operating contrary to permit conditions (oil company). Company: American Technologies, 1995 N. Batavia St., Orange Penalty: $1,000 Violation: Storing bags of asbestos material in an unlocked container at 1311 E. Washington Blvd., Santa Ana (asbestos abatement contractor). Company: Pleion Corp. 1100 S. Linwood Ave., Santa Ana Penalty: $1,000 Violation: Operating a paint-stripping furnace contrary to permit conditions (metal furniture manufacturer). Company: Southard’s Auto Service 5502 Orangethorpe Ave., La Palma Penalty: $550 Violation: Operating a gasoline dispensing facility with non-certified nozzles (gas station). Source: South Coast Air Quality Management District