SACRAMENTO - The California Air Resources Board last week fined a Pleasanton, Calif. soil stabilization company $12,000 for a failure to inspect their diesel trucks for compliance with the state's smoke emissions standards.

ARB investigators found that Griffin Soil failed to conduct diesel truck smoke tests in 2007, as required by state law.

"There is no excuse for violation of clean truck laws," said ARB Chairman Mary Nichols. "ARB enforcement personnel offer trainings around the state to help drivers meet inspection, operating and recordkeeping requirements."

Under the penalty, Griffin Soil must:

• Ensure that staff responsible for compliance with the diesel truck emission inspection program attend diesel education courses and provide certificates of completion within one year;
• Instruct vehicle operators to comply with the state's idling regulations;
• Complete heavy-duty diesel engine software and control technology upgrades in compliance with regulations;
• Supply all smoke inspection records to ARB for the next four years; and,
• Properly label engines to ensure compliance with the engine emissions certification program regulations.

The California Air Pollution Control Fund, established to mitigate various sources of pollution through education and the advancement and use of cleaner technology, will receive $9,000; $1,500 will go to the Peralta Community College District to fund diesel education classes; and, the remaining $1,500 to the California Air Pollution Control Financing Authority.

Failure to inspect diesel vehicles can lead to an increase in harmful airborne particles that Californians breathe. A decade ago, the ARB listed diesel particulate matter as a toxic air contaminant in order to protect public health. Exposure to unsafe levels of diesel emissions can increase the risk of asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory diseases.

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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