SACRAMENTO - The California Air Resources Board has fined the city of Camarillo $5,250 for diesel truck inspection violations in 2006 and 2007.

ARB enforcement teams found that the city of Camarillo failed to meet the Transit Fleet Vehicle Requirements.  In addition, the city did not inspect for its heavy-duty vehicles. The law requires annual smoke tests for diesel fleets and, in conjunction with ARB’s roadside smoke inspection program, ensures that all vehicles are properly maintained, tamper-free and free from excessive smoke.

“For over a decade now we’ve known that exhaust from diesel emissions is hazardous to our health," said ARB Chairman Mary Nichols. “Cities can go a long way in protecting the lungs of their citizens by regularly inspecting their diesel truck fleets for excessive smoke emissions.”

As part of the settlement, the city is required to:

• Guarantee employees responsible for conducting the inspections attend a training class on diesel emissions compliance testing and provide certificates of completion within one year;
• Provide documentation to ARB that the inspections are being carried out for the next four years;
• Ensure all of the city's heavy-duty diesel vehicles have their software updated with the latest Low-NOx (oxides of nitrogen emissions) programming;
• Instruct vehicle operators to comply with the state’s idling regulations;
• Comply with requirements of the fleet rule for transit agencies
• Revise all heavy-duty truck engine software with the latest Low-NOx (oxides of nitrogen emissions) programming; and,
• Ensure that all diesel trucks are up to federal emissions standards for the vehicle model year and are properly labeled with an emission control label.

The city of Camarillo will pay $5,250 in penalties and $3,937.50 will go to the California Air Pollution Control Fund, providing funding for projects and research to improve California’s air quality.  The Peralta Community College District will receive the $656.25 to fund emissions education classes conducted by participating California community colleges. The California Pollution Control Financing Authority will receive the remaining $656.25 to fund low-interest loans for owners of off-road diesel-powered construction vehicles.

Emissions from diesel particulate matter are associated with causing a variety of health effects including premature death and a number of heart and lung diseases.