The California Air Resources Board recently fined Airgas, a multipurpose distributor based in Radner, Pa., $43,000 for diesel truck emissions violations that occurred in 2006 and 2007 throughout California.
A CARB fleet audit found that the company had not been conducting the required annual emissions inspections on their heavy-duty diesel vehicles at fleet locations in Hayward, San Jose, Sacramento, Modesto, Chico, Yuba City, Woodland, Fresno, Lodi, Stockton, Diamond Springs, Concord, Merced, Susanville, Turlock, Santa Rosa, Redding, San Francisco, Salinas, San Carlos, Dublin and Visalia.
Airgas, through its subsidiaries, is the largest U.S. distributor of industrial, medical and specialty gases. They also distribute other products, such as welding equipment and supplies, as well as safety products.
“Healthy air quality is something to which everyone can contribute,” says CARB Chairman Mary Nichols. “When businesses do their part, everyone wins. When they don’t, public health is put at risk.”
As part of the settlement, Airgas must comply with the following:
Per the terms of the settlement, the company will pay $43,000 in penalties; $32,250 will go to the California Air Pollution Control Fund, which provides funding for projects and research to improve California’s air quality, with the remaining $10,750 going to Peralta Community College District to fund emissions education classes.
