“We must vigilantly guard against uncertified products slipping into California,” said ARB Executive Officer, Catherine Witherspoon. “Doing less would undermine efforts to reduce the smog problem in California.”

During routine retail inspections, ARB found that Wal-Mart was distributing non-compliant small off-road engine powered products. These engines are power sources for gardening machinery including blowers and string trimmers. California Health and Safety Code states that a company or person responsible for the sale of non-compliant small off-road engines must pay a civil penalty. Wal-Mart reported that it had sold 2,415 of these units and agreed to pay a $106,337 settlement. The estimated excess emissions from the non-compliant units is 1.27 tons of ROG and NOx combined for the current year.

Money from the settlement has gone to the California Air Pollution Control Fund (APCF). The APCF is used to mitigate various sources of pollution through education and the advancement and use of cleaner technology.

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.

The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy cost, see our website at http://www.arb.ca.gov.