A Leeward O'ahu salvage company has been cited by the state Department of Health for violating its solid waste management permit.

A Health Department news release today said Leeward Auto Wreckers/Albert's Towing, located at 91-209 Kuhela St. at Campbell Industrial Park, failed to comply with a warning letter issued in May 2006 for violations including lead acid batteries and scrap tires not stored in accordance with the facility's permit and exceeding permitted scrap tire storage capacity.

In November 2007, the Health Department fined the company $14,400 for still being in violation of its permit and ordered Leeward Auto Wreckers/Albert's Towing to take corrective actions to prevent further violations.

The penalty takes into account the extent of deviation from the law and the potential for harm. According to the Health Department, the manner in which solid waste was being stored and handled at the site poses a relatively low to moderate likelihood of exposure to humans or the environment.

Leeward Auto Wreckers/Albert's Towing can request a hearing to contest the allegations.

Steven Chang, manager of the Health Department's Solid & Hazardous Waste Branch, said the state could refer the case for criminal action if the violations continue to go unresolved.

In 1999, Leeward Auto Wreckers, its president Albert Tenora and the Health Department reached a settlement involving the accumulation of about 200,000 scrap tires by the company. At the time, the company was ordered to cease accepting scrap tires that were not part of a vehicle brought in for salvage purposes, and to remove and properly dispose scrap tires that exceed its permitted storage capacity.