California Air Resources Board

SACRAMENTO – The California Air Resources Board announced today that it has accepted settlements in two cases for a total of more than $105,000. Mack Truck, Inc. and Electrolux Home Products were found to be selling products in California that did not comply with state clean air regulations.

"We need full compliance with all air quality regulations in order to reach federally mandated standards," said ARB Executive Officer, Catherine Witherspoon.

In March 2002, Mack Trucks self reported the inadvertent sale of eight Midliner trucks equipped with engines not certified to California standards. These engines were certified to the federal standard allowing them to be sold in the other 49 states. The difference between the California and federal standard is that California requires a Nitrogen Oxides emission rate of 4 grams or less per brake horse power (g/bhphr), while the federal standard allows 4.6 grams per b/hphr. As part of the settlement, Mack recalled the eight trucks and converted the engines to the California certified configuration. In addition, Mack paid $52,000 to the California Air Pollution Control Fund to cover their own and the dealers' portion of the penalties.

Electrolux Home Products (EHP) paid $53,628 in the Air Pollution Control Fund. It was found that Sears and OSH had inadvertently sold non-compliant chain saws, blowers and trimmers made by EHP. Since January 2000, when California's more stringent emission standards for small off-road engines went into effect, Sears and OSH jointly sold 930 uncertified units and recalled 853 that were in stores or warehouses. In September of 2001, EHP refined its ordering systems to block any incorrect units and ensure that only California compliant units could be ordered for shipment to California.

All monies collected by ARB from these settlements have gone into the state's Air Pollution Control Fund. The APCF is used to mitigate various sources of pollution through education and the advancement and use of cleaner technology.