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 September:

COMPANY: Leggett & Platt, Whittier TYPE OF BUSINESS: Bed frame maker PENALTY: $215,000 VIOLATION: Excessive hydrocarbons from coating and solvent use, contrary to permit conditions. COMPANY: Mattel Inc., Hawthorne TYPE OF BUSINESS: Toy maker PENALTY: $100,000 VIOLATION: Failure to implement its AQMD-approved ride-sharing plan. In addition to the cash penalty, company agreed to spend $100,000 over the next four years to expand and improve employee ride-sharing incentives. COMPANY: Darling-Delaware Co., Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS: Meat renderer PENALTY: $90,000 VIOLATION: Numerous violations of permit conditions, odors released from storing meat byproducts, failure to vent meat cookers to pollution control equipment. COMPANY: Acoustic Authority Inc., Valencia TYPE OF BUSINESS: Stereo system manufacturer PENALTY: $36,000 VIOLATION: Excessive hydrocarbons from coating use, using coatings contrary to permit conditions. COMPANY: International Permalite, Ontario TYPE OF BUSINESS: Wallboard manufacturer PENALTY: $35,000 VIOLATION: Failure to control blowing dust, violating permit conditions. Money to go to AQMD’s Technology Advancement Fund to support development of low-emitting technologies. COMPANY: Liang Family, Banning TYPE OF BUSINESS: Demolition firm PENALTY: $25,000 VIOLATION: Failure to follow approved asbestos handling procedures while demolishing an apartment building. COMPANY: Mobil Oil Co., Torrance TYPE OF BUSINESS: Refinery PENALTY: $19,500 VIOLATION: Violating permit conditions on various pieces of equipment. COMPANY: Honda R & D North American, Torrance TYPE OF BUSINESS: Auto maker PENALTY: $18,000 VIOLATION: Failure to submit an AQMD-approved ride-sharing plan on time. COMPANY: Toshiba America Information Systems, Irvine TYPE OF BUSINESS: Computer manufacturer PENALTY: $18,000 VIOLATION: Failure to obtain permits to install an oven and an adhesive dispenser, operating solder equipment contrary to permit conditions. COMPANY: Drilube Co., Glendale TYPE OF BUSINESS: Airplane lubricant manufacturer PENALTY: $7,500 VIOLATION: Violating permit conditions on solvent use in de-greasers.