Acid Cloud Only Latest Problem for Firm : Safety: Richmond company responsible for leaking gas that sent 5,600 people to hospitals was assessed $265,00 in fines in the last year.

The Richmond chemical company that is responsible for a sulfuric acid cloud that forced more than 5,600 people to seek medical treatment had been fined nearly $265,000 in the past year for environmental and worker safety violations, authorities said Tuesday.

General Chemical Corp., the owner of the ruptured railroad car that spewed an estimated 9,500 gallons of concentrated acid into the air Monday, has a history of significant violations, state officials said, including a lack of proper training and equipment to deal with a hazardous-materials emergency.

On Tuesday, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District said it would fine the company up to $25,000 for the release of the sulfuric acid. General Chemical also could face a variety of charges from other local, state and federal agencies as well as civil actions brought by injured people.

The accident occurred when a railroad car carrying oleum, a concentrated form of sulfuric acid, ruptured while it was being unloaded. It took workers nearly four hours to halt the leak.

The dense cloud passed over heavily populated neighborhoods. Residents reported breathing difficulties, burning eyes, skin irritation, nausea and headaches, among other symptoms.

More than 24 hours after the incident, hundreds of people continued to crowd into hospitals complaining of lingering symptoms. Of the more than 5,600 people treated at hospitals and clinics, at least eight people have been hospitalized with respiratory problems from exposure to the chemical.

Health experts said they do not expect victims to suffer lingering effects because the exposure to the sulfuric acid cloud was relatively minor in most cases.

Previous penalties assessed against General Chemical include $127,425 in fines levied by Cal/OSHA for worker safety violations and $137,500 in fines imposed by Cal/EPA for 34 hazardous-waste violations.

Company officials said that Monday’s incident was unrelated to any previous citations and that it was sending a team from its new Jersey headquarters to conduct an investigation of the spill.