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; and
• 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 LADPW 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.