Boeing Fined for Stormwater Runoff

Boeing Fined for Stormwater Runoff



2007 September -   Allowing stormwater 
runoff and wastewater discharges with elevated levels of chromium, dioxin, 
lead, mercury and other pollutants to enter a tributary of the Los Angeles 
River has cost the Boeing Company $471,190 in fines issued by the Los 
Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board. 
The penalties were for 79 violations of Boeing's permit, which occurred 
between October 2004 and January 2006 at Boeing's Santa Susana Field 
Laboratory in Simi Valley. 
The pollutants entered Bell Creek, which is a tributary to the Los Angeles 
River, and the Arroyo Simi. 
"I am extremely concerned and alarmed whenever pollution reaches our 
rivers, lakes or beaches," said Francine Diamond, who chairs the Los 
Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board. 
"Water pollution harms our drinking water aquifers and threatens human 
health, aquatic life, and our multi-billion dollar coastal economy," said 
Diamond. "It is absolutely critical that water quality laws are rigorously 
followed and violations are seriously addressed." 
Upon issuance of the complaint, the public was notified of the opportunity 
to comment on the proposed fine, and Boeing had 30 days to decide whether 
to contest the allegations in the Complaint and the imposition of 
administrative civil liabilities by the Regional Board. On August 27, 
Boeing elected not to challenge the allegations in the complaint and the 
amount of civil liability and submitted full payment. 
"It is not uncommon for fines to be questioned by those who say they are 
too high as well as those who say they are too low," said Interim 
Executive Officer Deborah Smith. 
"Staff takes their enforcement role seriously and exercises great care in 
making sure that their recommendations are sound, responsible and 
defensible, Smith said. Assessed well above the minimum penalty that could 
have been imposed, Smith said Boeing's fine is appropriate for the number 
and significance of violations recorded. "This near half-million dollar 
penalty is a clear statement that violations of California's clean water 
laws will not be tolerated and will result in significant penalties," she 
said. 
The California Water Code specifies how money collected for water quality 
violations can be allocated. In most cases, a portion of any fine for 
violating permit limits must be deposited in the Cleanup and Abatement 
Account, which is used for environmental cleanups throughout California. 
The remaining portion can be used to fund environmental programs that 
benefit the geographic area impacted by the violation. The Los Angeles 
Regional Board has a pre-approved list of environmental projects for this 
purpose. 
Boeing's fine will be split into four allocations. 
The largest amount, $235,595, will be deposited in the Cleanup and 
Abatement Account, managed by the State Water Resources Control Board. 
A sum of $199,500 will fund a study on how trace metals, such as copper, 
are transported from watersheds to estuaries and to determine their impact 
on water quality and habitat and aquatic life. This study will be 
conducted by the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project. 
The Santa Monica Baykeeper will receive $22,000 of the fine for kelp bed 
restoration in the Santa Monica Bay. 
Finally, $14,095 will fund the creation and distribution of a publication 
identifying environmentally beneficial ways to manage stormwater runoff. 
This project will be overseen by the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers 
Watershed Council. 
"There is some comfort in knowing that the money collected for violating 
clean water regulations is used to restore and protect the environment," 
said Diamond. "I am pleased that the Regional Board has the authority to 
allocate a significant portion of Boeing's penalty - over $235,000 - to 
three projects that will greatly benefit our local watersheds." 

---