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 January: COMPANY: Vita Juice Corp., Pacoima TYPE OF BUSINESS: Fruit juice manufacturer PENALTY: $55,000 VIOLATION: Excessive hydrocarbons from paints and inks used to coat drums of fruit concentrate, failure to maintain daily usage records, other record-keeping violations. COMPANY: Mobil Oil Co., Torrance TYPE OF BUSINESS: Refinery PENALTY: $50,000 VIOLATION: Smoke emissions, operating during a malfunction, failure to maintain an alkylation unit and other equipment in good working order. COMPANY: Mobil Oil Co., L.A., Vernon, Terminal Island and Santa Fe Springs sites TYPE OF BUSINESS: Four service stations PENALTY: $25,000 VIOLATION: Violations on gasoline storage and dispensing equipment, including gaps and torn seals on external floating roof tanks, and vapor leaks. COMPANY: Harpers Co., Torrance TYPE OF BUSINESS: Furniture manufacturer PENALTY: $15,000 VIOLATION: Excessive hydrocarbons from operating spray booths contrary to permit conditions, failure to keep records of coating, adhesive and solvent usage. COMPANY: Massey Sand & Rock, Indio TYPE OF BUSINESS: Processing plant PENALTY: $15,000 VIOLATION: Dust emissions, failure to maintain vapor recovery equipment, operating contrary to permit conditions. COMPANY: L & L Custom Shutters, Placentia TYPE OF BUSINESS: Shutter manufacturer PENALTY: $6,939 VIOLATION: Excessive hydrocarbons from coating usage, in violation of permit. The firm will spend an additional $20,000 amending its usage permits to switch to water-based coatings sooner than required by AQMD rules. COMPANY: Powerine Oil Co., Santa Fe Springs TYPE OF BUSINESS: Refinery PENALTY: $5,000 VIOLATION: Strong sulfur odors from a floating roof tank. COMPANY: V & W Castings, Bell Gardens TYPE OF BUSINESS: Aerospace castings manufacturer PENALTY: $5,000 VIOLATION: Failure to submit a revised AQMD-approved ride-sharing plan. COMPANY: Container Link Storage, Compton TYPE OF BUSINESS: Container storage and repair PENALTY: $3,100 VIOLATION: Excessive hydrocarbons from coating usage, various violations of permit conditions. COMPANY: Southern Pacific Transportation Co., Bloomington TYPE OF BUSINESS: Railroad PENALTY: $3,000 VIOLATION: Black smoke emissions from a diesel locomotive in October, 1991. COMPANY: Southern Pacific Transportation Co., Bloomington TYPE OF BUSINESS: Railroad PENALTY: $3,000 VIOLATION: Black smoke emissions from a diesel locomotive in November, 1991.