SACRAMENTO, CA --- The California Air Resources Board last month fined a Santa Maria, Calif.-based company $21,675 for failing to inspect its diesel trucks at a Salinas fleet center.

ARB investigators concluded that Rancho Harvest Inc. failed to conduct diesel truck smoke tests in 2006 and 2007 at the Salinas facility, as required by state law.

"Our number one goal is compliance," said ARB Enforcement Chief James Ryden. "This violator immediately recognized and rectified the problem, allowing them to avoid more costly fines."

Under the penalty, Rancho Harvest 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

• 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 $16,256.25. Of that total, $2,709.38 will go to the Peralta Community College District to fund diesel education classes. The remaining $2,709.37 will go to the California Air Pollution Control Financing Authority.