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Bragg Investment Companies fined for emissions violations.
California Air Resources Board

Release 10-17
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

February 24, 2010 
     
Karen Caesar
(626) 575-6728
www.arb.ca.gov 

Long Beach company fined $31,500 for emissions violations

SACRAMENTO – The California Air Resources Board fined Bragg
Investment Companies $31,500 this month for emissions violations
during 2008. 

An ARB investigation showed Bragg Investment Companies, based in
Long Beach, Calif., failed to properly inspect their
diesel-powered vehicles for excess 
emissions.

“Routine diesel inspections are a top priority in protecting
California's air,” said ARB Enforcement Chief James Ryden.
“Companies failing to conduct these 
inspections can lead to an increase of toxic diesel particulate
matter in the air.

The law requires owners of California-registered truck fleets to
regularly inspect their vehicles to ensure that their engine
emissions meet state air 
quality regulations. 

Bragg Investment Companies is required to: 
•    Guarantee employees responsible for conducting the
inspections attend a 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 heavy-duty diesel vehicles 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; and, 
•    Ensure all diesel truck engines are up to federal emissions
standards for the vehicle model year and are properly labeled
with an emission control 
certification label. 

Bragg Investment Companies paid $31,500 in penalties: $23,625
went to the California Air Pollution Control Fund for projects
and research to improve 
California's air quality. The Peralta Community College District
received $7,875 to fund emissions education classes conducted by
participating California 
community colleges.

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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