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newsrel -- California sod company fined $9,500 for emissions violations

Posted: 21 Jul 2009 12:06:58
Camarillo, Calif., business fined for failing to properly inspect
its diesel truck fleet for smoke emissions. 

Air Resources Board

Release 09-65
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2009
							
CONTACT: Karen Caesar
(626) 575-6728
www.arb.ca.gov

California sod company fined $9,500 for emissions violations

SACRAMENTO – The California Air Resources Board has fined a
Camarillo, Calif., business $9,500 this month for failing to
properly inspect its diesel truck fleet for smoke emissions. 

An ARB investigation showed Pacific Sod, a subsidiary of Pacific
Earth Resources, failed to test, measure, record and maintain
records for its diesel trucks in 2007 and 2008 at its Camarillo
and Patterson, Calif., terminals.

“Routine inspections ensure California meets clean air
standards,” said ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols. “Companies that
fail to inspect their diesel vehicles can contribute to excess
air pollution.” 

Annual smoke tests are required for diesel truck fleets, in
conjunction with ARB's roadside smoke inspection program; the law
ensures that all vehicles are properly maintained, tamper-free
and free from excessive smoke.

As part of the penalty, Pacific Sod 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 trucks are up to federal emissions standards
for the vehicle model year and are properly labeled with an
emission control label. 

Pacific Sod paid $9,500 in penalties: $7,125 went to the
California Air Pollution Control Fund for projects and research
to improve California's air quality; the Peralta Community
College District received $1,187.50 to fund emissions education
classes conducted by participating California community colleges;
and, the remaining $1,187.50 went to the California Pollution
Control Financing Authority which guarantees loans to off-road
vehicle fleets that need to buy exhaust retrofits to comply with
state regulations.

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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