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Bus tour company fined for diesel emissions violations. 

Release 09-54

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Karen Caesar
(626) 575-6728
www.arb.ca.gov

June 1, 2009
					
Silver State Trailways cited $15,750 for diesel engine emissions
violations

SACRAMENTO – The California Air Resources Board fined Silver
State Trailways, a tour bus company based in Placentia, Calif.,
$15,750 this month for diesel engine emissions violations that
occurred in 2007 and 2008.

An ARB fleet audit found that the company had not been
conducting the required annual emissions inspections on their
heavy-duty diesel powered tour buses.

“Annual inspections ensure that a company’s fleet is up to
California’s clean air standards,” said ARB Chairman Mary
Nichols. “The cost of the inspections is a small price to pay for
human health.”

As part of the settlement, Silver State must comply with the
following: 

•	Guarantee employees that are responsible for conducting the
inspections attend a mandatory California Community College class
on diesel emissions inspection procedures and provide
certificates of completion within one year;
•	Provide documentation to ARB that the inspections are being
carried out for the next four years; 
•	Update all applicable engines in the fleet with the latest
Low-NOx (oxides of nitrogen) software programming; and, 
•	Ensure that all 1974 and newer diesel powered buses are up to
federal emissions standards for the vehicle model year and are
properly labeled with an engine certification label. 

The company will pay $15,750 in penalties: $11,812.50 will go to
the California Air Pollution Control Fund, which provides funding
for projects and research to improve California’s air quality;
$1,968.75 to Peralta Community College District to fund emission
education classes; and, the remaining $1,968.75 to the California
Pollution Control Financing Authority. 

A decade ago, the ARB listed diesel particulate matter as a
toxic air contaminant in order to protect public health. Exposure
to 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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