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 exceeded 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 August: COMPANY: Sears, Roebuck and Co., Santa Monica, Glendale, Riverside, Montebello sites TYPE OF BUSINESS: Retail stores PENALTY: $40,000 VIOLATION: Failure to submit its initial and updated AQMD-approved ride-sharing plans. The company will also spend an additional $10,000 to hire a consultant to help develop its ride-sharing plans and an additional $5,000 over a two-year period to improve its programs. *COMPANY: Arco Products Co.,Carson TYPE OF BUSINESS: Refinery PENALTY: $10,000 VIOLATION: Public nuisance violation because of odors from one of its cooling towers. *COMPANY: TYCOM Limited Partnership,Santa Ana TYPE OF BUSINESS: Carbide manufacturer PENALTY: $10,000 VIOLATION: Failure to submit an updated ride-sharing plan in a timely manner, failure to implement and monitor incentives offered in its approved plan. *COMPANY: Al’s Plating Inc., Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS: Chrome plater PENALTY: $7,500 VIOLATION: Failure to submit an air toxics inventory report. *COMPANY: Intercem Corp., Anaheim TYPE OF BUSINESS: Chemical maker PENALTY: $7,500 VIOLATION: Failure to submit an air toxics inventory report. *COMPANY: Vehicle Processors Inc., Long Beach TYPE OF BUSINESS: Vehicle repair firm PENALTY: $6,000 VIOLATION: Failure to obtain permits to construct and operate a fueling station, excessive reactive organic compound emissions from coatings and solvents. *COMPANY: Holiday Inn-Torrance Gateway, Torrance TYPE OF BUSINESS: Hotel PENALTY: $5,000 VIOLATION: Failure to provide incentives in its ride-sharing plan, failure to submit an updated plan. *COMPANY: Inland Container,Ontario TYPE OF BUSINESS: Paper products maker PENALTY: $5,000 VIOLATION: Public nuisance violation because of odors, excessive reactive organic compound emissions. *COMPANY: Trend Offset Printing, Los Alamitos TYPE OF BUSINESS: Printer PENALTY: $5,000 VIOLATION: Operating a thermal oxidizer contrary to permit conditions, failure to report a breakdown of its presses in a timely manner. *COMPANY: Paramount Petroleum Corp., Paramount TYPE OF BUSINESS: Oil company PENALTY: $3,500 VIOLATION: Excessive leaking of gaseous reactive organic compounds from two compressors and unplugged lines.