TOP AIR POLLUTION PENALTIES

The South Coast Air Quality Management District can seek court-imposed fines against polluters of up to $25,000 a day based on such factors as the extent that emissions exceed legal limits, potential danger, whether the violation was intentional, accidental or due to negligence, and the company’s history of violations. These are the 11 top penalties in August, with the last two firms tying for the 10th-highest penalties: COMPANY American Racing Equipment Rancho Dominguez TYPE OF BUSINESS Aluminum wheels manufacturer PENALTY $150,000 VIOLATION Excessive hydrocarbons from spray painting operations and from liquid coatings and solvents. COMPANY Hitachi Consumer Products of America Anaheim TYPE OF BUSINESS Electronic products manufacturer PENALTY $70,000 VIOLATION Failure to submit an AQMD-approved ride-sharing plan. COMPANY Gatx Terminals Corp. Carson TYPE OF BUSINESS Tank storage terminal PENALTY $50,000 VIOLATION Excessive hydrocarbons from operating crude oil tanks not connected to a vapor recovery system; faulty seals on tanks; violating permit conditions on secondary seal requirements. COMPANY Southern California Carton (James River Corp.) Garden Grove TYPE OF BUSINESS Made-to-order paperboard carton manufacturer PENALTY $40,000 VIOLATION Excessive hydrocarbons. COMPANY Texaco Refinery Wilmington TYPE OF BUSINESS Oil refinery PENALTY $25,000 VIOLATION Excessive organic gases; odors from a sulfur recovery plant. COMPANY Macco Constructors Paramount TYPE OF BUSINESS Construction firm PENALTY $15,000 VIOLATION Visible emissions from diesel-powered pile-driving hammers used at sites in Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Santa Ana and Irvine. COMPANY Gergi Ibrahim (Geo ARCO) Santa Fe Springs TYPE OF BUSINESS Gas station PENALTY $10,000 VIOLATION Failure to make the necessary corrections to a submerged fill tank. COMPANY Crown Auto Body Terminal Island TYPE OF BUSINESS De-waxing and car wash PENALTY $7,500 VIOLATION Exceeding permitted solvent usage. COMPANY L.A. Dept. of Public Works, Hyperion Plant Playa del Rey TYPE OF BUSINESS Sewage plant PENALTY $7,000 VIOLATION Failure to obtain a permit to alter a scrubber; public nuisance violation due to odors. COMPANY American Kleaner Pico Rivera TYPE OF BUSINESS Steam cleaning equipment manufacturer PENALTY $6,000 VIOLATION Excessive hydrocarbons from spray painting booths. COMPANY La Reina Foods Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS Food processor PENALTY $6,000 VIOLATION Failure to submit an AQMD-approved ride-sharing plan.