Over $1 Million in Settlement Funds Go to Community Colleges, Clean Air Fund

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The California Air Pollution Control Fund will receive just over $1 million for projects and research to improve California's air quality. Over $76,000 will go to the Peralta college district to fund emissions education classes conducted by participating California community colleges around the state.

The funds come from settlements for the following violations:

• Sold uncertified hybrid engines for in use transit buses ($50,000), ISE Corporation of Poway, Calif.
• Offered for sale and sold non-California certified vehicles ($50,000), Tiffany Coachworks of Corona, Calif.
• Sold generators without the required emission control catalysts ($204,000), Robin America of Wood Dale, Ill.
• Sold uncertified tractors and windrower engines ($77,000), AGCO Corporation of Duluth, Ga.
• Modified and sold new 2010 Chevrolet Camaros for use or registration in California ($12,500), Hendrick Automotive Group of Charlotte, N.C.
• Sold catalytic converters that were no longer for sale in the state of California ($125,000), O’Reilly Auto Parts of Springfield, Mo.

Fifty-six other companies settled for a total of $629,306 for failure to:

• Properly inspect their diesel vehicles, as required by California law; and/or,
• Properly affix emissions labels on engines; and/or,
• Register and submit transport refrigeration unit facility reports.

Diesel and gasoline-powered vehicles emit smog-forming pollutants, including nitrogen oxides.  In 1998 the ARB listed diesel particulate matter as a toxic air contaminant in order to protect public health. Diesel exhaust contains a variety of harmful gases and over 40 other known cancer-causing compounds. These emissions are linked to health problems and can exacerbate common respiratory conditions such as asthma.