Napa Company fined $14,400 for emissions violations
SACRAMENTO – The California Air Resources Board fined Biagi Bros. $14,400 this month for emissions violations during 2008 and 2009.
An
investigation by ARB showed Biagi Bros., based in Napa, Calif., failed
to properly inspect their diesel-powered vehicles for excess emissions.
“Diesel exhaust is the most common air toxin in California
and is detrimental to public health and the environment,” said ARB
Enforcement Chief James Ryden. “Routine inspections are an essential component in reducing harmful emissions, and providing clean air for the public.”
The
law requires owners of California-registered truck fleets to regularly
inspect their vehicles to ensure that their engine emissions meet state
air quality regulations.
Biagi Bros. 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 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; and, •
Ensure all diesel truck engines are up to federal emissions standards
for the vehicle model year and are properly labeled with an emission
control certification label.
Biagi Bros. paid
$14,400 in penalties: $10,800 went to the California Air Pollution
Control Fund for projects and research to improve California's air quality.
The Peralta Community College District received $3,600 to fund
emissions education classes conducted by participating California
community colleges.
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.
