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 last July: COMPANY: GNB Inc. Vernon TYPE OF BUSINESS: Lead smelter PENALTY: $307,000 VIOLATION: Public nuisance violation due to excessive lead emissions and odors, burning solid waste in an incinerator without AQMD approval, emitting smoke. COMPANY: USC Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS: College PENALTY: $60,000 VIOLATION: Operating equipment without a permit, including 19 internal combustion engines and 14 sterilizers; failure to maintain coating and solvent usage records. COMPANY: Fletcher Oil & Refining Carson TYPE OF BUSINESS: Refinery PENALTY: $47,000 VIOLATION: Public nuisance violations due to odors and gas leaks; operating contrary to permit conditions. COMPANY: JBL Inc. Northridge TYPE OF BUSINESS: Audio speaker system manufacturer PENALTY: $20,000 VIOLATION: Installing and operating equipment without permits; failure to use approved coatings and transfer methods; record-keeping violations. COMPANY: Inland Container Corp. Ontario TYPE OF BUSINESS: Paper product manufacturer PENALTY: $15,000 VIOLATION: Failure to report excess emissions; record-keeping violations. COMPANY: Santa Fe Pipelines Partners Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS: Gasoline and diesel bulk loading facility PENALTY: $12,500 VIOLATION: Violating permit conditions on fuel transfer; record-keeping violations. COMPANY: Exhibit Group Inc. Commerce TYPE OF BUSINESS: Industrial display firm PENALTY: $8,500 VIOLATION: Using noncompliant coatings and adhesives. COMPANY: Alpase Inc. Downey TYPE OF BUSINESS: Aluminum foundry PENALTY: $7,500 VIOLATION: Operating contrary to permit conditions. COMPANY: ITT Cannon Santa Ana TYPE OF BUSINESS: Electrical connector maker PENALTY: $7,000 VIOLATION: Excessive solvent loss from two degreasers. COMPANY: Pacific Hospital of Long Beach Long Beach TYPE OF BUSINESS: Hospital PENALTY: $7,000 VIOLATION: Failure to offer employee rideshare incentives in its AQMD-approved ride-sharing plan; failure to submit an annual plan update.