Agency investigation proposes six felony charges against California metal recycler

LOS ANGELES (Scrap Monster): An investigation by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has proposed six felony charges against Maywood metal recycling firm, Panda International Trading Co., Inc. and its owner Da Xiong Pan. The Department had conducted an investigation following a criminal complaint filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office in April this year.

The owner of the company pled guilty to five felonies and received 16 months in prison, which was suspended to one day in jail and 1,000 hours of community service. Meantime, the metal recycler pled guilty to one felony charge and was ordered to pay $53,568.26 in restitution. The DTSC has also ordered three years of probation for the facility and its owner. According to the agency, Panda International Trading Co. is prohibited from operating any business that leads to storage or disposal of hazardous waste.

In its complaint, the Attorney’s Office had alleged that Panda International Trading Co., Inc. and Da Xiong Pan has knowingly treated and stored hazardous waste such as Copper, Lead, Zinc and Cadmium at the facility on or around June 4, 2013, without having necessary permit from DTSC authorities.

As per Count 2, the company and its owner committed a felony by knowingly causing hazardous substances to be deposited into or upon road, street, highway, alley, railroad right-of-way, upon the land of another or into state waters. The third felony is for knowingly disposing hazardous waste at site without having proper permits. The Count 4 is issued for the crime of storage of hazardous waste and its treatment in the facility having no permit from the Department of Toxic Substances Control. The Count 5 is issued for depositing hazardous waste in public places.

DTSC’s Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI) had executed a search warrant on the scrap metal facility in November 2013. The inspection was carried out with the assistance of other agencies including the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Los Angeles Port Police, Los Angeles Public Works, Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, Los Angeles County Fire Department Health Hazardous Material Division and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The inspection noted that the black dust release and deposits on the public sidewalk in front of the recycling facility contains high levels of harmful metals.

Hansen Pang, DTSC’s chief investigator for the OCI reminded all facilities that handle hazardous waste, to ensure that they abide by state regulations. He further added that violation of state’s hazardous waste control laws will be considered a serious offence. Strict action would be taken against violators of law, Pang added.

About Panda International Trading Co., Inc.

The facility is located at 3570, Friutland Ave., Maywood City, California. It used to receive handles and stores cathode ray tubes, old appliances and consumer products which contain mercury, lead, cadmium and other substances that are hazardous to human health and the environment. The facility is no longer under operation.