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 $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 caused by negligence and the company’s history of violations. These are the 10 top penalties in January: COMPANY: Victoria Guernsey, San Bernardino Station TYPE OF BUSINESS: Service Station PENALTY: $5,000 VIOLATION: Failure to use soil mitigation measures or cease excavation of contaminated soil.

COMPANY: James Jones Co., El Monte TYPE OF BUSINESS: Foundry PENALTY: $3,000 VIOLATION: Operating a a furnace to melt metals, in excess of permit allowance.

COMPANY: Southern Pacific Transportation Co., Bloomington TYPE OF BUSINESS: Railroad PENALTY: $3,000 VIOLATION: Excessive smoke emissions from a diesel locomotive.

COMPANY: Kern View Oil Co., Huntington Beach TYPE OF BUSINESS: Crude oil production facility PENALTY: $2,000 VIOLATION: Failure to obtain a permit to operate two crude oil and water separation tanks.

COMPANY: Texaco Dealer, Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS: Service station PENALTY: $2,000 VIOLATION: Operating a defective pump.

COMPANY: Arco Products Co., Carson TYPE OF BUSINESS: Oil refinery PENALTY: $1,500 VIOLATION: Public nuisance violation from odors.

COMPANY: Le Fiell Manufacturing Co., Santa Fe Springs TYPE OF BUSINESS: Aerospace and aircraft parts maker PENALTY: $1,500 VIOLATION: Changing storage tank contents in violation of permit conditions.

COMPANY: Clean World Disposal and Recycling, Pacoima TYPE OF BUSINESS: Recycling facility PENALTY: $1,000 VIOLATION: Depositing dirt on a public roadway.

COMPANY: Med-Mar Metals, Anaheim TYPE OF BUSINESS: Ceramics maker PENALTY: $250 VIOLATION: Public nuisance violation from odors.

COMPANY: U.S. Petroleum, Downey TYPE OF BUSINESS: Service station PENALTY: $250 VIOLATION: Operating without a permit, failure to maintain its vapor recovery equipment.