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 June: COMPANY: Avery Dennison Fasson, Merchant Products Division, Rancho Cucamonga TYPE OF BUSINESS: Label maker PENALTY: $15,000 VIOLATION: Excessive reactive organic compound emissions, failure to properly maintain pollution control equipment. *COMPANY: Huntway Refining Co., Wilmington TYPE OF BUSINESS: Asphalt refiner PENALTY: $7,000 VIOLATION: Failure to cover holding pond and tank components of a wastewater treatment system, which were modified without a permit. *COMPANY: Fitrol Corp., Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS: Chemical synthesizer PENALTY: $4,500 VIOLATION: Releasing emissions that exceeded standard concentration levels. *COMPANY: Trust Services of America, Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS: General contractor PENALTY: $4,500 VIOLATION: Failure to cease excavation of contaminated soil, failure to notify AQMD of soil contamination within the required 24-hour period, failure to have a mitigation plan on the job site. *COMPANY: Ralphs Grocery Co., Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS: Grocery store chain PENALTY: $3,750 VIOLATION: Failure to submit its AQMD-approved ride-sharing plan by the date due. *COMPANY: Decter Mannikin Co., Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS: Mannequin maker PENALTY: $2,000 VIOLATION: Using spray guns and operating a spray booth without a valid permit, reactive organic compound emissions from leaving solvent containers open. *COMPANY: Doubletree Hotel, Pasadena TYPE OF BUSINESS: Hotel PENALTY: $1,800 VIOLATION: Failure to resubmit an amended ride-sharing plan within 30 days of learning that its initial plan was disapproved. *COMPANY: Black Gold, Riverside TYPE OF BUSINESS: Gas station PENALTY: $1,700 VIOLATION: Operating a gas station without a permit. *COMPANY: Dynasty Classics, Carson TYPE OF BUSINESS: Lighting manufacturer PENALTY: $1,500 VIOLATION: Failure to implement ride-sharing plan incentives. *COMPANY: Mellon Financial Services, Monrovia TYPE OF BUSINESS: Financial institution PENALTY: $1,500 VIOLATION: Failure to submit an updated AQMD-approved ride-sharing plan. *COMPANY: Savannah Corp., Chino TYPE OF BUSINESS: Plastic injection molder PENALTY: $1,500 VIOLATION: Failure to re-submit an amended ride-sharing plan within 30 days of learning that its initial plan was disapproved. *COMPANY: Western Environmental Engineers Co., Santa Ana TYPE OF BUSINESS: Tank degassing and removal firm PENALTY: $1,500 VIOLATION: Vapor emissions from a leaky pipe while degassing, operating altered equipment, failure to comply with permit conditions.