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 July: COMPANY: Sony Music Entertainment Inc., Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS: Music company PENALTY: $25,000 VIOLATION: Failure to submit its ride-sharing plan within 90 days of receiving written notification. The company will spend an additional $10,000 to improve incentives in its 1993 and 1994 ride-sharing plans. *COMPANY: Anaheim Plating Inc., Anaheim TYPE OF BUSINESS: Chrome plating and anodizing firm PENALTY: $8,000 VIOLATION: Operating chrome plating tanks and scrubbers in violation of permit conditions, failure to keep proper records. *COMPANY: Arco Products Co., Carson TYPE OF BUSINESS: Refinery PENALTY: $5,000 VIOLATION: Excessive reactive organic compound emissions from a tank’s leaking gauge hatch cover. *COMPANY: Southern California Edison Co., Redondo Beach TYPE OF BUSINESS: Electric utility PENALTY: $4,995 VIOLATION: Excessive nitrogen oxide emissions. *COMPANY: Western Fuel Oil Co., San Pedro TYPE OF BUSINESS: Bulk fuel storage firm PENALTY: $3,000 VIOLATION: Failure to properly maintain equipment, which led to leaks and vapor emissions. *COMPANY: Santee Custom Chrome Manufacturing, San Fernando TYPE OF BUSINESS: Motorcycle parts maker PENALTY: $2,500 VIOLATION: Failure to submit a 1989 air toxics inventory report. *COMPANY: Star Gas Inc., Bellflower TYPE OF BUSINESS: Service station PENALTY: $2,500 VIOLATION: Failure to properly maintain vapor recovery system, spilling gasoline. *COMPANY: DBC West Inc., Banning TYPE OF BUSINESS: Brake lining operation PENALTY: $2,000 VIOLATION: Failure to properly handle asbestos, failure to report the incident to the AQMD. *COMPANY: Erickson Inc., Costa Mesa, Laguna Hills sites TYPE OF BUSINESS: Underground storage tank degassing firm PENALTY: $2,000 VIOLATION: Reactive organic compound emissions from a pumper truck’s storage tank vent during a degassing operation. *COMPANY: John Kim (Mobil dealer), Redondo Beach TYPE OF BUSINESS: Service station PENALTY: $2,000 VIOLATION: Failure to properly maintain the station’s vapor recovery system.