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 exceed 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 four companies that incurred violations resulting in penalites of $2,500 or greater in July: COMPANY: Ultramar Inc., Wilmington TYPE OF BUSINESS: Refinery PENALTY: $18,500 VIOLATION: Excessive visible and gaseous volatile organic compund emissions, improper use of air pollution control equipment contrary to permit conditions. *

COMPANY: Smith Barney/Shearson Lehman, Los Angeles TYPE OF BUSINESS: Stock brokerage firm PENALTY: $10,000 VIOLATION: Failure to implement the compressed work week incentive outlined in its ride-sharing plan, failure to submit a biennial ride-sharing plan, failure to implement other incentives in its AQMD-approved plan. The firm will spend an additional $10,000 to add cash incentives to its ride-sharing plan and to use posters, flyers and other promotional materials to encourage ride-sharing. *

COMPANY: Inland Container Corp., Ontario TYPE OF BUSINESS: Paper mill PENALTY: $5,000 VIOLATION: Operating a co-generation system contrary to permit conditions. *

COMPANY: Coltec Industries, Menasco Overahaul Division, Burbank TYPE OF BUSINESS: Aircraft landing gear maker PENALTY: $4,000 VIOLATION: Operating equipment with expired and/or inactive permits, using unapproved equipment. The company will spend an additional $5,000 to purchase a newer, more efficient degreaser.