Southwest Transportation Agency Settlement
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Southwest Transportation Agency Case Settles for $71,700.00 in Suspended Penalties
The Air Resources Board (ARB) suspended the proposed penalty of $71,700, because it would, inter alia, cause severe financial hardship to the school districts under contract with Southwest Transportation Agency. This settlement was reached in October 2012.
An investigation by the ARB showed that Southwest Transportation Agency failed to comply with the applicable Executive Order (EO) by modifying the Cleaire Horizon Diesel Particulate Filters installed on school buses owned by Southwest Transportation Agency. The EO issued by ARB for the Cleaire Horizon Diesel Particulate Filter requires that no changes are permitted to the device. In addition, Southwest Transportation Agency failed to comply with the Periodic Smoke Inspection Program (PSIP) by failing to smoke test one diesel powered vehicle in its fleet. Southwest Transportation Agency also failed to comply with the Emission Control Label (ECL) program by not making sure that ECLs are affixed to four diesel powered heavy-duty commercial vehicle engines. To settle the case, Southwest Transportation Agency agreed to the suspended $71,700 penalty and to comply with the California Vehicle Code Section 27156, the Aftermarket Parts Regulations, the Verification Procedure, the applicable EO, the PSIP and the ECL program.