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 from $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 due to negligence and the company’s history of violations. These are the 10 top penalties in December:

COMPANY: Novacap Inc., Valencia

TYPE OF BUSINESS: Capacitor and electronic component manufacturer

PENALTY: $225,000

VIOLATION: Operating five ovens without permits, excessive organic material emissions.

COMPANY: Lucas Western, City of Industry

TYPE OF BUSINESS: Aircraft parts supplier

PENALTY: $20,000

VIOLATION: Failure to obtain a permit to operate a methanol fuel storage tank, excessive hydrocarbons from solvent use.

COMPANY: Separation & Recovery Systems, Irvine

TYPE OF BUSINESS: Waste oil processor

PENALTY: $20,000

VIOLATION: Operating a sludge de-watering centrifuge contrary to permit conditions at a Signal Hill facility.

COMPANY: ARCO, Carson

TYPE OF BUSINESS: Refinery

PENALTY: $15,000

VIOLATION: Failure to properly seal a gauging hatch, causing a fuel gas leak exceeding 50,000 parts per million.

COMPANY: TRW Inc., Redondo Beach

TYPE OF BUSINESS: Aerospace firm

PENALTY: $15,000

VIOLATION: Excessive hydrocarbons from coating and solvent use, failure to meet transfer efficiency requirements for wood coatings.

COMPANY: Union Oil of California, Wilmington

TYPE OF BUSINESS: Refinery

PENALTY: $12,000

VIOLATION: Rule violations involving pipe vapor leaks, smoke emissions from its sufuric acid plant.

COMPANY: Sargent Fletcher, El Monte

TYPE OF BUSINESS: Aircraft parts maker

PENALTY: $6,500

VIOLATION: Failure to implement an AQMD ride-sharing plan, approved in 1989, and failure to submit an annual updated plan in September, 1991.

COMPANY: Woodmill Products, Fullerton

TYPE OF BUSINESS: Wood housewares manufacturer

PENALTY: $6,000

VIOLATION: Excessive hydrocarbons from storing solvent-soaked rags in open containers and from coating operations, failure to obtain a permit to operate various pieces of equipment.

COMPANY: P. Kay Metal Supply, Los Angeles

TYPE OF BUSINESS: Metal recyler

PENALTY: $4,000

VIOLATION: For one day of operating its lead smelter without venting emissions to an air pollution control system.

COMPANY: Medtronic Inc., Anaheim

TYPE OF BUSINESS: Medical equipment maker

PENALTY: $3,000

VIOLATION: Failure to implement incentives in its ride-sharing plan, failure to submit an annual updated plan.

COMPANY: Southern Pacific Transportation & Railroad Co., Bloomington

TYPE OF BUSINESS: Railroad

PENALTY: $3,000

VIOLATION: Smoke emissions from the stack of a diesel locomotive.

COMPANY: Yorba Linda, Car Wash

TYPE OF BUSINESS: Car wash and service station

PENALTY: $3,000

VIOLATION: Failure to properly maintain gasoline pump vapor recovery equipment.