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District failed to inspect its diesel fleet as required by law. 

Air Resources Board

Release 09-27c
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE					
CONTACT: Karen Caesar

March 30, 2009						
(626) 575-6728
www.arb.ca.gov

Temecula Valley Unified School District pays $18,500 in
penalties
District failed to inspect its diesel fleet as required by law

SACRAMENTO – The Air Resources Board in January fined the
Temecula Valley Unified School District $18,500 for failing to
inspect its diesel truck and bus fleet in 2006 and 2007.

The Riverside County-based school district is required by law,
as are all diesel fleet owners, to perform periodic smoke
inspections to test for excessive emissions and engine tampering.
 

“California’s air quality laws require that all businesses be
vigilant when it comes to maintaining equipment that has the
potential to pollute the air,” said California Air Resources
Board Chair Mary D. Nichols.  “When they slip up, we all pay the
price.”

The Temecula Valley Unified School District will split its fine
as follows:

•	$13,875 to the California Air Pollution Control Fund, which
provides funding for projects and research to improve
California's air quality;
•	$2312.50 to the Peralta Community College to help support
emission education classes conducted by the California Council
for Diesel Education and Technology; and 
•	$2312.50 to the California Pollution Financing Authority,
which guarantees loans to off-road vehicle fleets that need to
buy exhaust retrofits to comply with state regulations.

Other terms of the settlement include requirements that all
staff responsible for compliance attend diesel education classes,
and that each bus and heavy duty vehicle in the fleet carry proof
that its engine meets appropriate emissions standards by having a
manufacturer emission control label properly affixed to the
engine.

In 1998, the ARB identified diesel particulate matter as a toxic
air contaminant in order to protect public health. Exposure to
diesel emissions can increase the risk of cancer and serious
respiratory and cardiovascular conditions.  California has
aggressively worked to cut diesel emissions by cleaning up diesel
fuel, requiring cleaner engines for trucks, buses and off-road
equipment, and limiting unnecessary idling.

The Air Resources Board is a department of the California
Environmental Protection Agency.  ARB’s mission is to promote and
protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through
effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and
considering effects on the economy.  The ARB oversees all air
pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain
health based air quality standards.

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