The Air Resources Board has fined the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works and DBI Beverage Inc. for environmental violations relating to their diesel fleets.

CARB fined the LADPW $256,375 and DBI $116,400 for failure to comply with California air quality regulations.  

The LADPW failed to properly self-inspect its diesel trucks to ensure they met state smoke emission standards. They also failed to properly affix Emission Control labels on the engines of their fleet vehicles and follow requirements of the Transit Fleet Vehicle and Public Agency and Utility Rules.

“This significant fine reflects the serious nature of LADPW’s violations,” said CARB Enforcement Chief Jim Ryden. ”We hold public agencies accountable for their mistakes the same as we do private businesses.”

DBI was fined for failing to monitor their fleet as required by state law. It also failed to self-inspect its diesel trucks in 2011 and 2012 for state smoke emission standards and failed to properly affix Emission Control Labels on the engines of their fleet vehicles.

“While DBI Beverage Inc. did violate California’s air quality regulations, the company does not have a history of past violations and its representatives were fully cooperative,” said Ryden.

As part of the settlement agreement, the LADPW paid $192,281 and DBI paid $87,300 to the California Air Pollution Control fund. The LADPW paid $64,094 and DBI paid $29,100 to the Peralta Colleges Foundation.

In addition to the fines the LADPW must comply with the following:

• Ensure that staff responsible for compliance with diesel truck maintenance attend CCDET diesel education courses

• Instruct vehicle operators to comply with California idling regulations

• Ensure that trucks have the most recent low-NOx software installed

• Provide documentation to CARB that smoke opacity inspections are being conducted for the next three years

• Ensure that all 1974 and newer diesel powered vehicles are up to federal emissions standards for the vehicle model year and are properly labeled with an Emission Control label