California Air Resources Board

Vallejo Citizens Transport Co. Case Settles for $387,750

In July 2014, Vallejo Citizens Transit Company (Vallejo Transit Co.), a subsidiary of MV Transportation, paid $387,750.00 in penalties for violations of air quality regulations: $290,000.00 to the Air Pollution Control Fund, which provides funding for projects and research to improve California's air quality; and $97,750.00, to the CAPCOA-San Joaquin Air Pollution Control District, School Bus and Diesel Emission Reduction Supplemental Environmental Project.

The investigation began when an informant reported allegations of ongoing tampering of the diesel particulate filters (DPFs) by the City of Vallejo’s contractor, Vallejo Transit Co. Air Resources Board, Enforcement and Mobile Source Control Division staff conducted two inspections in the fall of 2010 and confirmed that the DPFs were tampered with including back pressure sensors being disconnected and other issues. Additionally, Vallejo Transit Co., maintenance personnel were using a power washer to clean the DPF substrates and the effluent was discharged through a storm drain into San Francisco Bay. The Enforcement Division documented that Vallejo Transit Co., had failed to: (1) properly maintain the DPFs, (2) properly self-inspect its diesel vehicles, as required by the Periodic Smoke Inspection Program (PSIP); (3) comply with emission control label (ECL) regulations; and (4) comply with the urban bus particulate matter emission reduction of the Fleet Rule for Transit Agencies.

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