Santa Barbara County prosecutors say they’ve reached a $100,000 settlement over safety issues with the company which operates a cogeneration power facility for a Central Coast Hospital. J & A Santa Maria operates a methane gas capture facility at the Santa Maria Landfill, and a cogeneration plant at Marian Regional Medical Center.
Prosecutors say there was a fire at the cogeneration facility in August of 2017, but firefights had a hard time battling it because they didn’t have a required listing of the onsite hazardous materials. They also say some hazardous waste material there were not properly stored and labeled.
Investigators say the situation posed a risk to the public. In the settlement, prosecutors say J & A Santa Maria admitted its liability, and agreed to meet regulatory requirements. It will also pay about $100,000 in fines and restitution.
