SACRAMENTO, CA --- The California Air Resources Board (CARB) in November fined General Produce Co. $30,900 for reporting violations during 2006. 

General Produce failed to submit a one-time report for its transportation refrigeration units at the company facility, as required by law, CARB said. The refrigeration systems are powered by diesel engines that control the environment of temperature-sensitive products in refrigerated trucks, trailers, railcars and shipping containers. 

"Companies that fail to submit the reports required in this and other diesel fleet regulations set the stage for further non-compliance and continued production of harmful emissions; they also create an unfair advantage over compliant companies," said ARB Enforcement Chief James Ryden. 

Facilities with 20 or more cold storage loading docks are required to monitor, keep records and report activities that create emissions from diesel-powered refrigeration units mounted on trucks, trailers, shipping containers and rail cars. These activities take place during the loading and unloading of perishable goods at distribution centers around the state. 

General Produce paid $30,900 in penalties: $23,175 went to the California Air Pollution Control Fund for projects and research to improve California's air quality. The remaining $7,725 went to participating community colleges throughout the state to fund emissions education classes.