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newsrel -- Agriculture tech company cited $4,000 for diesel engine emissions violations

Posted: 17 Jun 2009 12:03:33
Monsanto Company cited for diesel emissions violations. 

Release 09-55
								
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:	Karen Caesar				
(626) 575-6728
www.arb.ca.gov

June 17, 2009													
Agriculture tech company cited $4,000 for diesel engine
emissions violations

SACRAMENTO – The California Air Resources Board fined the
Monsanto Company $4,000 this month for diesel engine emissions
violations that occurred in 2007 and 2008 at fleet centers in San
Juan Bautista and Williams, Calif. 

An ARB fleet audit found that the company, based in St. Louis,
Mo., had not been conducting the required annual emissions
inspections on their heavy-duty diesel vehicles.

“Taking the green road in business is one of the best ways to
outshine competitors,” said ARB Chairman Mary Nichols. 
“Considering our continued air quality problems, commitment to
clean air and public health should be the motto of businesses
across California.”

As part of the settlement, Monsanto must comply with the
following: 

•	Guarantee employees who are responsible for the inspecting the
vehicles attend a mandatory California Community College class on
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 vehicles are up
to federal emissions standards for the vehicle model year and are
properly labeled with an engine certification label. 

The company will pay $4,000 in penalties: $3,000 will go to the
California Air Pollution Control Fund, which provides funding for
projects and research to improve California’s air quality; $500
to Peralta Community College District to fund emission education
classes; and, the remaining $500 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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