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newsrel -- Los Angeles County Department of Public Works fined $256,000 for violating air pollution laws

Posted: 28 Aug 2014 11:40:55
Please consider the following news release from the California
Air Resources Board: http://bit.ly/VTd2Ru
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 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 28, 2014

NEWS RELEASE 14-65

CONTACT:

Karen Caesar
(916) 322-2990
kcaesar@arb.ca.gov


Los Angeles County Department of Public Works fined $256,000 for
violating air pollution laws

$64,000 to fund diesel classes at LA Trade Tech College

SACRAMENTO - The Air Resources Board fined the Los Angeles County
Department of Public Works $256,375 for failure to comply with
California air quality regulations.

A routine investigation by ARB’s Enforcement Division documented
that LADPW failed to:

Properly self-inspect its diesel trucks to insure they met state
smoke emission standards;
Properly affix Emission Control Labels on the engines of their
fleet vehicles; 
Follow requirements of the Transit Fleet Vehicle and Public
Agency and Utility Rules.


“This significant fine reflects the serious nature of LADPW’s
violations,” said ARB Enforcement Chief Jim Ryden. “We hold
public agencies accountable for their mistakes the same as we do
private businesses. We hope that this fine sends a message to
public and private fleet managers that they must follow the law
and maintain their vehicles and records properly.”

LADPW provides regional bus service for Los Angeles County
residents and also operates a public works fleet to maintain
roads and county infrastructure. Following ARB’s investigation,
LADPW realized that the transit and public works fleet required
more hands-on management and its staff have since worked with ARB
to ensure that both fleets are in compliance. 

As outlined in the settlement agreement, the LADWP paid
$192,281.00 to the California Air Pollution Control Fund, which
provides funding for projects and research to improve
California's air quality, and $64,094.00 to the Peralta Colleges
Foundation to fund diesel education classes conducted by Los
Angeles Trade Tech College under the California Council for
Diesel Education and Technology (CCDET) Program. 

As part of the settlement, LADPW must also comply with the
following:

Ensure that staff responsible for compliance with diesel truck
maintenance attend CCDET diesel education courses;
Instruct vehicle operators to comply with California idling
regulations;
Ensure that trucks have the most recent low-NOx software
installed;
Provide documentation to ARB that smoke opacity inspections are
being conducted for the next three years; 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 Emission Control Label.


Diesel exhaust contains a variety of harmful gases and more than
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.


California is in a drought emergency.
Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.

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