California Air Resources Board

SACRAMENTO – The ARB has settled with RDO Equipment Company of Riverside, Calif., $15,000 for failing to properly self-inspect its diesel trucks to assure they meet state smoke emission standards.

The violations occurred during 2008 and 2009, when RDO neglected to test, measure, record and maintain emissions records from its heavy duty fleet. The ARB considers these practices to be vital tools in helping to reduce excessive smoke emissions from mobile sources.

“Every ounce of pollution counts,” said ARB Enforcement Chief James Ryden. “Our laws exist for good reasons. All companies have to follow the rules and perform the required tests for the sake of our collective health.”

As part of the settlement, RDO is required to:

• Guarantee employees or contractors responsible for conducting the inspections attend a California community college 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 through 2012;
• 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;
• Ensure all diesel truck engines are up to federal emissions standards for the vehicle model year and are properly labeled with an emissions control certification label.

The company will pay $11,250 to the California Air Pollution Control Fund to support projects and research to improve California’s air quality. The remaining $3,750 will go to the Peralta Community College District 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.