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 three companies that incurred violations resulting in penalties of $2,500 or greater in October: COMPANY: Chevron U.S.A. Inc. El Segundo TYPE OF BUSINESS: Refinery PENALTY: $21,000 VIOLATION: Several violations, including a public nuisance violation from gas emissions, releasing excessive amounts of gas through leaky valves and operating its sulfur recovery plant over allowable limits. *

COMPANY: Sensor Systems Inc. Chatsworth TYPE OF BUSINESS: Maker of radio antenna fins for aircraft PENALTY: $11,700 VIOLATION: Excessive volatile organic compound emissions from coatings and clean-up solvent usage. *

COMPANY: Packaging Corp. of California , City of Industry TYPE OF BUSINESS: Polystyrene food container maker PENALTY: $10,000 VIOLATION: Excessive nitrogen oxide emissions from two heaters.