What's New List Serve Post Display

Please consider the following Air Resources Board press release
announcing the recent settlement with A L Gilbert Co and the
City of Visalia. You can as well read the release online at:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/nr101107.htm .
Thank You
Dimitri Stanich
ARB/PIO

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Release 07-43
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 11, 2007
	  	  	
Gennet Paauwe
Dimitri Stanich
(916) 322-2990 
www.arb.ca.gov

ARB Settles with San Joaquin Valley's A.L. Gilbert Co. and the
City of Visalia

Failure to test diesel truck fleets for excess emissions costs
$30,000 in penalties

SACRAMENTO - The California Air Resources Board last month
settled with A.L. Gilbert Co. and the City of Visalia for a
total of more than $30,000 for failure to self-inspect their
diesel trucks for compliance with the state's smoke emissions
standards.

Oakdale-based A.L. Gilbert Co. settled for $18,750 and the city
of Visalia $12,000.

Both are required to have all staff responsible for compliance
with the Periodic Smoke Inspection Program and Heavy Duty Diesel
Vehicle Inspection Program to attend courses at the California
Council on Diesel Education and Technology, through selected
California community colleges. Further, each must instruct
vehicle operators to comply with the state's idling regulations,
supply all smoke inspection records to ARB for the next several
years, and have properly labeled engines to ensure compliance
with the engine emissions certification program regulations.

The Periodic Smoke Inspection Program and Heavy Duty Diesel
Vehicle Inspection Program require annual smoke opacity tests of
California-based fleets. The programs, in conjunction with ARB's
roadside smoke inspection program, are used to ensure that all
of California's heavy-duty vehicles are properly maintained,
tamper-free and free from excessive smoke emissions.

"This case, combined with all of our other enforcement actions
and aggressive regulations, will help bring cleaner air to the
San Joaquin Valley sooner," said ARB Chairman Mary Nichols. "Our
inspectors are keeping a vigilant eye out for those who foul
California's air."

The San Joaquin Valley faces serious particulate matter and
ozone problems. Diesel particulate matter can increase the
number and severity of asthma attacks, cause or aggravate
bronchitis and other lung diseases, and reduce the body's
ability to fight infections. Ozone causes numerous adverse
health effects that may range from relatively mild temporary
conditions, such as eye or throat irritation, shortness of
breath, or headaches to permanent and serious conditions, such
as birth defects, cancer or damage to lungs, nerves, liver,
heart, or other organs.

The monies will be put into the California Air Pollution Control
Fund, which was established to mitigate various sources of
pollution through education and the advancement and use of
cleaner technology. This fund uses compliance settlement fees to
fund various pollution-related research projects and related
programs.

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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