Plating Firm Accused of Hazardous Spills

An Anaheim metal-plating firm was accused Tuesday of spilling acids and other hazardous materials into a storm catch basin and could be fined $30,000.

Inspectors for the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board, a state agency based in Riverside, recommended the maximum fine possible under the California Water Code for the owners of Neutron Plating Inc., in the 2900 block of East Blue Star Street. Water officials said the company allowed an unspecified quantity of hazardous liquids to leak from storage barrels and a garbage bin into the catch basin.

Owners of the company, who could not be reached for comment, are contesting the claim and will meet with water quality officials Friday. If the parties fail to reach a settlement at that time, the recommended fine will be considered at a water board hearing Jan. 19.

“The volume of materials that leaked was pretty small, but we’re concerned that there may have been an ongoing problem,” said Kurt Berchtold, the board’s assistant executive officer. “We’re worried there was a drip that the company made no effort to control.”

Berchtold said the leak was discovered during a recent inspection of the plating company. The alleged violation is a civil, not a criminal matter. Berchtold said the company has never been fined for such spills.

The fine is one of a number of penalties meted out to area businesses during a recent period of heightened enforcement. In July, the quality-control board was given extra funding that allowed it to triple the number of staff in its storm-water program.

“We’ve been able to do a lot more routine inspections, so we’ve seen a lot more fines,” Berchtold said.