Boeing faces state fine

Boeing Co. faces a nearly half-million-dollar fine for allowing excessive levels of lead, mercury and other toxins to flow from its Santa Susana Field Lab into the exclusive West Valley community of Bell Canyon and the Los Angeles River, regulators said Wednesday. Kerry Cavanaugh in the Daily News.

If Boeing is forced to pay it, it would be among the largest fines levied against the lab owner for environmental violations.

Following up on a directive earlier this year from state regulators, Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board staffers proposed fining Boeing $471,190 for 79 water-quality violations over 15 months.

Staffers doubled the mandatory minimum penalty because of the toxicity and frequency of the pollution violations from October 2004 to January 2006.

"Really, the issue here is that they should have been able to stop the violations a long time ago," said Michael Levy, senior counsel to the L.A. water board.