SACRAMENTO – The California Air Resources Board last month fined a Newman, Calif. heavy-duty diesel fleet $37,000 for failing to inspect its diesel trucks for compliance with the state's smoke emissions standards.

ARB investigators found that Mello Milk Transport, Inc., failed to conduct diesel truck smoke tests in 2008 and 2009 at its fleet facility, as required by state law.

"Reducing diesel particulate emissions is the most important thing we can do to protect the public against the harmful health effects of air pollution," said ARB Chairman Mary Nichols. "Businesses that do their part by maintaining their vehicles help keep our air healthy."

Under the penalty, Mello Milk must:

• Ensure that staff responsible for compliance with the diesel truck emission inspection program attend diesel education courses and provide certificates of completion within one year;
• Instruct vehicle operators to comply with the state's idling regulations;
• Complete heavy-duty diesel engine software and control technology upgrades in compliance with regulations;
• Supply all smoke inspection records to ARB for the next four years; and,
• Properly label engines to ensure compliance with the engine emissions certification program regulations.

The California Air Pollution Control Fund, established to mitigate various sources of pollution through education and the advancement and use of cleaner technology, will receive $27,750, and the remaining $9,250 will go to the Peralta Community College District to fund diesel education classes.

Failure to inspect diesel vehicles can lead to an increase in harmful airborne particles that Californians breathe. In 1998, the ARB listed diesel particulate matter as a toxic air contaminant in order to protect public health. Exposure to unsafe levels of diesel emissions can increase the risk of asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory diseases.