Shasta County Department of Public Works Settlement
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Shasta County Department of Public Works Settles For $417,000
In August 2026, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) reached a settlement with the Shasta County Department of Public Works, with its principal location in Redding, California, for the county’s violation of the Methane Emissions from Municipal Solid Waste Landfills (Landfill Methane Regulation, or LMR), as codified in California Code of Regulations, title 17, section 95460 et seq.
An investigation conducted by CARB Enforcement Division staff showed that the Shasta County Department of Public Works failed to meet the surface methane emissions standards and the gas collection and control system requirements of the LMR when 49 locations at the West Central Landfill were found to have methane emissions exceeding 500 parts per million by volume and one location was found to have an average methane concentration exceeding 25 parts per million by volume.
To settle the case, Shasta County Department of Public Works agreed to the penalty of $3,000 per day in violation for a total settlement amount of $417,000. The civil penalty amount of $238,397 will be deposited into CARB’s Air Pollution Control Fund, which provides funding for projects and research to improve California's air quality. Shasta County Department of Public Works elected to fund a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) with the remaining amount of $178,603 entitled, Cleaner Air Greener Schools Northern California, with U.S. Green Building Council California. The purpose of the SEP is to install air purifiers for 10 schools, along with outdoor and indoor air monitors. Additionally, the U.S. Green Building Council California also intends to provide air pollution education to youths through Sustainability Fundamental Workshops to a total of 1,200 kids directly impacted in the Northern California region.
Terms of the settlement include a requirement for the Shasta County Department of Public Works to comply with all other CARB regulations going forward. The Shasta County Department of Public Works worked cooperatively with CARB staff to quickly resolve this matter, and implemented additional measures to reduce the potential of any future violations.