California Air Resources Board

SACRAMENTO - Finish Line Technologies Inc., a leading manufacturer of bicycle chain lubricants and other bicycle maintenance products, has agreed to pay a penalty of $157,000 for violating consumer products regulations that protect air quality, the Air Resources Board announced today.

The Hauppauge, N.Y.-based company agreed to pay the penalty as part of an April 15 negotiated settlement agreement to resolve allegations by the Air Resources Board that multiple products manufactured by Finish Line exceeded state limits for volatile organic compounds.

These compounds are regulated by the Air Resources Board because they react with other pollutants under sunlight to form ground-level ozone, a main ingredient in smog. As a result of direct sales to consumers, the products in question contributed an estimated 12.3 tons of excess volatile organic compounds to California's air.

During routine inspections at retail outlets in California in 2009 and 2010, Enforcement Division staff purchased multiple products made by Finish Line, which makes a number of bicycle maintenance products, from bicycle chain lubricants to drivetrain degreasers.

The products were tested by ARB's laboratory and found to have exceeded the limits for volatile organic compounds for their respective product categories.

The Air Resources Board alleged that seven Finish Line products in all, including Finish Line Citrus Degreaser and White Lighting Clean Streak, did not comply with the state's consumer products regulations.

Finish Line cooperated with the investigation and quickly reformulated its products to comply with the regulation. As part of the settlement, Finish Line also agreed not to sell, supply or offer for sale for use in California, any consumer products in violation of ARB consumer products regulations.

For more information about the Consumer Products Program, go to: https://www.arb.ca.gov/consprod/consprod.htm