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Britz-Simplot, a cental valley retailer, was fined for emissions
violations. 

Release 09-24
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
March 20, 2009
 
Mary Fricke
(916) 322-2990
www.arb.ca.gov 

California agricultural retailer fined $16,500 for emissions
violations 

SACRAMENTO - The California Air Resources Board this month fined
Britz-Simplot Grower Solutions $16,500 for diesel truck emission
violations throughout its Central Valley facilities. 

ARB investigators found that Britz-Simplot failed to inspect its
diesel truck fleet between 2007-2008 at its Hanford, Hollister,
Terra Bella, Traver, Five Points and Stockton facilities. 

"Penalties for air pollution violations are a warning to
business owners," said ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols. "The price
can be more than a monetary inconvenience when a company's
reputation is at stake."

The law requires annual smoke tests for diesel truck 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.

As part of the settlement, Britz-Simplot is required to: 

Guarantee employees responsible for conducting the inspections
attend a California community college 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 company's heavy-duty diesel trucks 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;
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. 

Britz-Simplot will pay $16,500 in penalties: $12,375 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 $2,062.50 to
fund emissions education classes conducted by participating
California community colleges, and, the remaining $2,062.50 will
go 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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