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Company failed to properly inspect diesel vehicles for smoke
emissions. Air Resources Board
California  Environmental  Protection  Agency

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Release 09-94

October 21, 2009 

Karen Caesar
(626) 575-6728
www.arb.ca.gov 

Pacific Petroleum fined $21,000 for emissions violations 

SACRAMENTO - The California Air Resources Board fined Pacific
Petroleum $21,000 last month for emissions violations during 2006
and 2007. 

An ARB investigation showed Pacific Petroleum failed to properly
inspect its diesel vehicles for smoke emissions at its Santa
Maria, Calif., terminal. 

"Routine inspections and maintenance are essential steps to meet
California's clean air standards," said ARB Enforcement Chief
James Ryden. "Companies that fail to inspect their diesel
vehicles can increase toxic pollutants in the air." 

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 settlement, Pacific Petroleum is required to: 

Guarantee employees responsible for conducting the inspections
attend a California community college 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 of the company's on-road heavy-duty diesel engines
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; 
Comply with requirements of the fleet rule for transit agencies;
and, 
Ensure that all on-road diesel engines are up to federal
emissions standards for the vehicle model year and are properly
labeled with an emissions control certification label. 

Pacific Petroleum paid $21,000 in penalties: $15,750 went to the
California Air Pollution Control Fund for projects and research
to improve California's air quality. The Peralta Community
College District received $2,625 to fund emissions education
classes conducted by participating California community colleges;
and, the remaining $2,625 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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