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 December: COMPANY: Santa Fe Railroad, San Bernardino TYPE OF BUSINESS: Railroad PENALTY: $177,500 VIOLATION: Forty-eight counts of excessive smoke emissions from diesel locomotives. The company will also spend an additional $285,000 to implement a compliance reporting program that outlines maintenance procedures to ensure compliance with air pollution control rules. COMPANY: Chemoil Refining Corp., Long Beach TYPE OF BUSINESS: Oil refinery PENALTY: $12,500 VIOLATION: Public nuisance violation due to odors, excessive reactive organic compound emissions from vapor leaks, failure to properly maintain tanks and other operating equipment. COMPANY: GNB Battery Technologies Inc., Vernon TYPE OF BUSINESS: Battery recycling PENALTY: $10,000 VIOLATION: Excessive carbon monoxide emissions, operating equipment without a permit, intentionally violating an order of abatement. COMPANY: Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of Los Angeles, Buena Park, Torrance, San Fernando sites TYPE OF BUSINESS: Bottling firm PENALTY: $10,000 VIOLATION: Failure to offer incentives identified in its AQMD-approved ride-sharing plan at the Buena Park and Torrance sites, failure to notify the AQMD of a change of its designated transportation coordinator at the Buena Park site, failure to submit a revised ride-sharing plan on time at the San Fernando site. The company will spend an additional $40,000 to increase the cash incentives for employees who participate in the company’s ride-sharing program. COMPANY: Chevron U.S.A., El Segundo TYPE OF BUSINESS: Refinery PENALTY: $9,500 VIOLATION: Reactive organic compound emissions from operating equipment with leaky valves, releasing emissions in excess of allowable limits. COMPANY: Custom Enamelers Inc., Fountain Valley TYPE OF BUSINESS: Computer and aerospace parts coater PENALTY: $4,500 VIOLATION: Public nuisance violation from overspraying, excessive volatile organic compounds from cleaning solvent usage, failure to store solvent-laden rags properly. COMPANY: Arco Products Co., South Gate TYPE OF BUSINESS: Refinery PENALTY: $3,500 VIOLATION: Exceeding the allowable limits for loading rack back pressure. COMPANY: The Plaza Savings & Loan, Santa Ana TYPE OF BUSINESS: Banking firm PENALTY: $3,000 VIOLATION: Failure to submit an updated ride-sharing plan. COMPANY: Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital,Inglewood TYPE OF BUSINESS: Hospital PENALTY: $2,500 VIOLATION: Failure to submit its biennial ride-sharing plan. COMPANY: Holiday Inn Anaheim, Anaheim TYPE OF BUSINESS: Hotel PENALTY: $2,500 VIOLATION: Failure to submit a change of ownership, failure to provide AQMD with a required plan for controlling nitrogen oxide emissions. COMPANY: Samco Scientific Inc., San Fernando TYPE OF BUSINESS: Transfer pipe maker PENALTY: $2,500 VIOLATION: Failure to submit an updated ride-sharing plan on time, failure to implement current incentives, failure to document incentives that were offered through the company’s AQMD-approved plan.