CA fleet fined $63,300

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has fined Clougherty Packing/Farmer John, a subsidiary of Hormel Foods, $63,300 for failure to comply with diesel truck emission requirements, according to CARB.

CARB inspectors found that Farmer John failed to file a report for the company’s Vernon, CA distribution facility, violating the state’s Transport Refrigeration Unit facilities regulations. Facilities with 20 or more cold storage loading docks are required to monitor, keep records and report activities that create emissions during the loading and unloading of perishable goods at distribution centers, including diesel-powered refrigeration units mounted on trucks, trailers, shipping containers and rail cars. According to CARB, the company also failed to inspect its diesel truck fleet for excess emissions in 2006 and 2007.

As a result, Farmer John must pay the fine plus submit delinquent transport refrigeration facility reports; ensure that staff responsible for compliance with the diesel truck emission inspection program attends diesel education courses and provides 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 and meet other requirements as spelled out by CARB.

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 $47,475 and the Peralta Community College District will get $15,825 from Farmer John to fund diesel education courses at five community college campuses around the state.

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