City Sues Manufacturers Over Ballona Creek Waste

City Atty. James K. Hahn has filed criminal charges against officials of a Westside furniture-manufacturing company accused of dumping hazardous materials near Ballona Creek.

Among those named in the criminal complaint is Donald Lee Alderson, 40, president of Don Alderson Associates Inc. The firm makes specialty furniture for hotels, other businesses and homes at its plant in the 3300 block of South La Cienega Place in Los Angeles.

Hahn’s office said charges grew out of an investigation by the Los Angeles County Department of Health, which found evidence of illegal dumping of paint and paint thinners at the plant after receiving a citizen complaint.

According to Deputy City Atty. Teresa Luhan, inspectors found evidence of illegal dumping on the ground along a chain-link fence behind the factory, which is on an embankment overlooking the creek.

“Paint stains and splatters were visible along the fence line, and paint stains were also visible on the creek side of the fence on the vegetation and bushes and running down the concrete embankment to the creek,” Hahn said.

“It appeared that the illegal dumping had been going on for some time, since the inspectors determined as they were taking samples that the paint contamination had soaked six to eight inches deep into the soil.”