SACRAMENTO - The Air Resources Board announced that Champion Brands, a Missouri based supplier of specialty lubricants and consumer products for the automotive, racing, heavy truck, agricultural, industrial, and specialty markets has been penalized $50,755 for selling consumer products that do not comply with state air quality standards.

An investigation revealed that Champion Brands supplied Champion Chain Lube Multi- Purpose Spray Grease, a consumer product that exceeded California’s limits for smog-causing pollutants, known as ‘volatile organic compounds.’ The company also disclosed to ARB that an additional product, Champion Lube Spray Grease, also exceeded California’s limits for Multi- Purpose Lubricants.

“We need to address every major source of pollution that contributes to smog and formation,” said ARB Enforcement Chief Jim Ryden. “Companies must do their part to protect public health by complying with California law and limiting the amount of volatile organic compounds in the products they manufacture, and sell to consumers.”

The settlement of $50,755 will be paid in four installments directly to the California Air Pollution Control Fund as civil penalties. On June 22, an initial payment of $12,688.75 was received following the signing of the settlement agreement. Three additional payments will be made prior to December 31, 2012.

Champion Brands agreed that it would not sell, supply, offer for sale, or manufacture for sale in California any consumer product in violation of California’s air quality standards. Both products have since been reformulated to meet California’s regulations for multi- purpose lubricants.

For more information on California’s consumer product regulation, please visit: https://www.arb.ca.gov/enf/consprod.htm