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Regular inspection of diesel engines in fleets required by
regulation. 

Release 08-85
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2008
	  	  	
Karen Caesar
626-575-6728
www.arb.ca.gov

ARB cites hazardous waste disposal company $43,500 for diesel
emission violations

SACRAMENTO - The California Air Resources Board has fined
Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc., a hazardous waste disposal provider
and cleaning products manufacturer, $43,500 this month for
diesel truck emission violations that occurred in 2006 and 2007
throughout California.

An ARB audit found that the company did not conduct the
mandatory fleet inspections at locations in Sylmar, Los Angeles,
Santa Ana, El Monte, Highland, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Fresno,
Oakland, Reedley, Rohnert Park, Sacramento, and Salida.

"By ensuring that inspections are carried out, fleet owners can
be confident that they are helping clean up California's air,"
said ARB Chairman Mary Nichols. "Companies that are not
performing these tasks will be cited in our continuing effort to
improve air quality."

As part of the settlement, Safety-Kleen must comply with the
following:

    * Guarantee employees that are responsible for conducting
the inspections attend a mandatory California community college
training class on diesel emissions and provide certificates of
completion within one year;
    * Instruct employees and drivers on ARB's truck idling
regulations;
    * Provide documentation to ARB that the inspections are
being carried out for the next four years; and,
    * Ensure that all diesel trucks are up to federal emissions
standards for the vehicle model year, are properly labeled with
the manufacturer's factory engine certification label, and have
the latest software update. 

The company will pay $43,500 in penalties: $32,625 will go to
the California Air Pollution Control Fund, which provides
funding for projects and research to improve California's air
quality, with the remaining $10,875 going to Peralta Community
College District to fund emission education classes conducted by
participating California community colleges under the California
Council for Diesel Education and Technology.

A decade ago, the ARB listed diesel particulate matter as a
toxic air contaminant in order to protect public health.
Exposure to unsafe levels of diesel emissions can increase the
risk of asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory diseases.
California has aggressively worked to cut diesel emissions by
cleaning up diesel fuel, requiring cleaner engines for trucks,
buses and off-road equipment, and limiting unnecessary idling.

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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