SACRAMENTO – The California Environmental Protection Agency's Air Resources Board (ARB) has settled two cases with Ryobi Outdoor Products and Echo Incorporated resulting in $85,000 being paid to the California Air Pollution Control Fund.

"These penalties will be used to clean California's air and will save lives," said Michael Kenny, executive officer of the ARB. "We cannot allow these small engines to go unchecked and damage our public's health and economy."

Both cases involve small off-road engines.  Compared to cars these engines can emit ten times as much smog forming pollution.  Exposure to these emissions increases an individual's chances of contracting cancer, and heart and lung disease.

Ryobi was found to have introduced into California's market uncertified new small off-road engines.  Certification ensures that potential sources of air pollution meet California's emissions standards created to protect our environment and health.  Under the terms of the settlement, Ryobi paid $40,000 to the Air Pollution Control Fund.

Through an ARB investigation, Echo Incorporated was found to have avoided approximately 478 required assembly line emissions tests on small gas powered weed whips and blowers produced in 1999.  Although no adverse air quality impact resulted from the missed audit tests, the ARB vigorously enforces the audit provisions to ensure emissions problems are caught before the engines are sold to California consumers.  Under the terms of the settlement, Echo paid $45,000 to the Air Pollution Control Fund.

The $85,000 from these settlements goes into the California's Air Pollution Control Fund, which is used to mitigate various sources of pollution throughout the state.  The state uses this fund to educate the public and provide programs to minimize the output of smog forming emissions from various sources.