Local News in Brief : 1st Case Under New Law
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Prosecutors on Wednesday filed the first case under the city’s new “right to know” ordinance, accusing a company of failing to register hazardous materials discovered by firefighters while fighting a blaze in South Los Angeles.
Named as defendants in the misdemeanor complaint filed by the city attorney’s office was Cooper-La Clear Inc. and its owner, David Cooper, 44, of Whittier.
One firefighter was overcome by toxic fumes during a fire at the company in June. Prosecutors said hazardous materials in metal drums were found after the fire.
The “right to know” ordinance approved in September, 1985, required all companies with 10 or more employees to submit inventories of their hazardous wastes to the Fire Department by Dec. 31, 1986.
Prosecutors said Cooper did not register the hazardous materials until last August. If convicted, he and the company could be sentenced to six months in jail and fined $1,000.
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