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newsrel -- Bay Area ready mix company fined $7,000 for air quality violations

Posted: 30 Dec 2008 11:45:35
Diesel exhaust creates 70 percent of the airborne carcinogens in
California's air. 

Release 08-106
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 30, 2008
	  	  	
Leo Kay
(916)322-2825
www.arb.ca.gov

Bay Area ready mix company fined $7,000 for air quality
violations

SACRAMENTO - The Air Resources Board fined an East Bay concrete
ready mix company $7,000 this month for failing to inspect its
heavy-duty diesel fleets for 2007 and 2008.

An ARB investigation showed that Berkeley-Oakland Ready Mix,
subsidiary of Hanson Aggregates, personnel failed to inspect and
maintain records for their diesel truck fleet, as required by
California law. Annual smoke tests are required for diesel truck
fleet, 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.

"Diesel truck inspections and maintenance part of doing business
in California," said ARB Chairman Mary Nichols. "Customers expect
businesses to follow the law."

As part of the settlement, the Berkeley-Oakland Ready Mix is
required to:

    * Guarantee employees responsible for conducting the
inspections attend a mandatory California community college class
on diesel emissions and provide certificates of completion within
one year;
    * Provide documentation to ARB that the inspections are
being carried out for the next four years;
    * Revise all heavy-duty truck engine software with the
latest Low-NOx (oxides of nitrogen emissions) programming; and,
    * Ensure that all diesel trucks meet federal emissions
standards for the vehicle model year and are properly labeled
with an emission control label. 

Berkeley-Oakland Ready Mix will pay $7,000 in penalties: $5,250
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 $875
to fund emissions education classes conducted by participating
California community colleges. The remaining $875 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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