SACRAMENTO - The California Air Resources Board fined JLG Harvesting Inc., $21,500 last month for emissions violations during 2005 and 2006 at its Salinas, Calif., terminal.

An ARB investigation showed JLG Harvesting failed to properly inspect some of its diesel vehicles, as required by California law.

"Companies must do their part to ensure their diesel vehicles stay clean and meet California clean air laws," said ARB Enforcement Chief James Ryden. "By following these standards we can achieve healthier air for our state."

Failing to conduct these inspections can lead to an increase of toxic air contaminants and diesel particulate matter in the air. The law requires owners of California-registered truck and bus fleets to regularly inspect their vehicles to ensure that their engine emissions meet state air quality standards.

As part of the settlement, JLG Harvesting is required to:

• Guarantee employees responsible for conducting the inspections attend a mandatory California community college class on diesel emissions and provide certificates of completion within one year;
• Provide documentation to ARB that the inspections are being carried out for the next four years;
• Instruct vehicle operators to comply with the state's idling regulations;
• 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.

JLG Harvesting Inc., paid $21,500 in penalties: $16,125 went to the California Air Pollution Control Fund, for projects and research to improve California's air quality. The Peralta Community College District received $2,687.50 to fund emissions education classes conducted by participating California community colleges. The remaining $2,687.50 went to the California Pollution Control Financing Authority to fund low-interest loans for owners of off-road diesel-powered construction vehicles.

Diesel exhaust contains a variety of harmful gases and over 40 other known cancer-causing compounds. In 1998, California identified diesel particulate matter as a toxic air contaminant based on its potential to cause cancer, premature death and other health problems.

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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