TOP AIR POLLUTION PENALTIES

The South Coast Air Quality Management District has responsibility for controlling air pollution in the area. It has the power to seek court-imposed fines against polluters of from $25 to $25,000 a day, based on such factors as the extent that emissions exceed legal limits, the potential danger to the public, whether the violation was intentional or accidental and the company’s history of violations. These are the 10 highest penalties paid in June:

COMPANY TYPE OF BUSINESS PENALTY Stepan Co. Detergent $40,000 Anaheim manufacturer S & S Products Wood products $25,000 Duarte manufacturer Paramount Petroleum Oil refinery $9,000 Corp. Paramount Rubber-Teck Inc. Aircraft and $9,000 Gardena missile component manufacturer Wagner Electric Sales Automotive $8,000 Corp. parts Torrance manufacturer Finn Industries Inc. Carton $6,000 Commerce manufacturer Fletcher Oil and Oil refinery $5,625 Refining Carson Nupla Corporation Fiberglass tool $5,350 Sun Valley manufacturer Lamps R Us Inc. Lamp $4,575 Chatsworth Lamp manufacturer Corsican Furniture Furniture $4,000 Inc. manufacturer Los Angeles

COMPANY VIOLATION Stepan Co. Excessive fumes due Anaheim to sulfur trioxide leak S & S Products Operating paint spray Duarte booths without valid permits and contrary to permit conditions Paramount Petroleum Excessive Corp. hydrocarbon and Paramount sulfur emissions Rubber-Teck Inc. Improper operation of Gardena cold solvent degreaser; improper coating operation Wagner Electric Sales Excessive Corp. hydrocarbons from Torrance improper coating operation Finn Industries Inc. Operating equipment Commerce in violation of permit conditions Fletcher Oil and Excessive Refining hydrocarbons; Carson operating contrary to permit conditions Nupla Corporation Improper coating Sun Valley operation exceeding permit limits Lamps R Us Inc. Improper coating Chatsworth operation exceeding permit conditions Corsican Furniture Excessive Inc. hydrocarbons from Los Angeles improper coating operation