Randy’s Trucking, Inc., given largest ever fine for violating truck regulations

A trucking firm based in Taft, CA has just received the largest air pollution fine ever issued by California for violating the state’s landmark Truck and Bus Regulation. The California Air Resources Board (ARB) announced yesterday that Randy’s Trucking, Inc., has agreed to pay $524,675 for violating requirements designed to reduce harmful diesel emissions into the atmosphere.

The company will pay a portion of the penalty, $392,755, to the state’s Air Pollution Control Fund to support air quality research. The remaining $130,920 will be paid to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) to aid in the cleanup of school bus fleets throughout the state.

Read more at the link below:

http://www.examiner.com/article/randy-s-trucking-inc-given-largest-ever-fine-for-violating-truck-regulations

EPA issues NOV for oil terminal permits, blasting the SJVAPCD in the process

Anti-oil groups and environmental activists were overjoyed recently with the news that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a Notice of Violation to the Bakersfield Crude Terminal and its owners/operators for violating the Clean Air Act. EPA said that the Taft, CA, facility, which was designed to receive crude oil by rail, had obtained invalid Authorities to Construct and Permits to Operate from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (APCD). Additionally, EPA said that emission offsets and Best Available Control technology were not required by the APCD, blasting the local agency for an inadequate and incorrect permit review/issuance process.

However, in an e-mailed response today to an inquiry from Examiner.com, an APCD representative strongly disputed EPA's charges, stating that EPA did not properly investigate the facts and nor did it even contact the APCD to discuss its analysis of the project before issuing the NOV.

Read more at the link below:

http://www.examiner.com/article/epa-issues-nov-for-oil-terminal-permits-blasting-the-sjvapcd-the-process

American Lung Association 2015 report shows Valley has worst air in the nation.

The American Lung Association released its State of the Air 2015 report yesterday and once again, the news is not good for residents of Bakersfield and other San Joaquin Valley cities. Except for ozone concentrations (Los Angeles/Long Beach was the worst), San Joaquin Valley cities had the top four worst ratings for short-term particle pollution (24-hour PM 2.5) and year-round particle pollution (Annual PM 2.5). As for ozone, Valley cities were the second, third, fourth, and eighth worst in the nation.

Read more at the link below:

http://www.examiner.com/article/american-lung-association-2015-report-shows-valley-has-worst-air-the-nation

Jerry Brown shakes California up again with a new agressive GHG reduction target

California Governor Jerry Brown shook up the regulated community again today, announcing a new Executive Order that sets a more stringent greenhouse gas reduction target for his state than anywhere else in North America.

Read more at the link below:

http://www.examiner.com/article/jerry-brown-shakes-california-up-again-with-a-new-agressive-ghg-reduction-target