EPA Seeks to Fine 2 Burbank Companies

The Environmental Protection Agency has recommended large fines for two small Burbank electroplating firms that it says dumped heavy metals and other hazardous chemicals into the Los Angeles sewer system.

The agency proposed fines of $30,000 against Magna Plating and $45,000 against A-H Plating Co. for violating federal standards governing pre-treatment of waste water. The waste is pumped to the city of Los Angeles Hyperion Treatment Plant, which discharges into Santa Monica Bay.

The companies were cited for violations found last August during an EPA inspection. Both companies were ordered to comply with federal and Los Angeles standards by Aug. 15 of this year.

The fines, which are still being discussed with company officials, could be reduced if they show good faith and comply with the standards by the August deadline, said Gerald Klug, an environmental engineer for the EPA. Electroplating is a process that electrically deposits a metallic coat on objects such as silverware, jewelry and cans.

Magna Plating exceeded discharge limits for the heavy metals cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, silver and zinc, Klug said.

For instance, the federal standard for cadmium is 1.2 milligrams a liter. Inspectors found quantities ranging from 3.9 milligrams to 8.9 milligrams a liter in Magna Plating’s discharges.

The company also exceeded limits for cyanide, a toxic chemical, Klug said.

A-H Plating violated standards for cadmium, chlorides, pH, sulfates, lead, chromium, lead, nickel and total dissolved solids, Klug said. For example, samples taken at A-H showed copper amounts ranging from 2.8 milligrams to 5.2 milligrams a liter. The federal standard for copper is 1.2 milligrams a liter.

Heavy metals can be toxic to aquatic life and people. However, “the amounts of waste water from the two companies represented a small proportion of the total flow into the treatment plant, and was not enough to pose a hazard,” Klug said.

Officials said Hyperion treats more than 400 million gallons of waste water a day. The two companies were discharging a total of 10,000 to 15,000 gallons of waste water each day.

Executives at the two companies declined to comment Friday.

Both firms have been working to reduce heavy metals in their discharges and A-H Plating is installing a new waste water treatment system, Klug said.

The EPA also said Friday that it has found a Simi Valley textile company to be in violation of federal waste discharge standards, and ordered the company to cease the violations. The agency said Travelin’ West Textiles was discharging harmful liquid pollutants in the Simi Valley division of the Los Angeles County Sanitation District.

No further details were available from EPA or Simi Valley sanitation officials.