Tracy Press

 
The company failed to report air pollution from refrigerators at its warehouses in Tracy and a Southern California city.

State air regulators fined Costco $40,200 for failing to report air pollution from diesel-fueled refrigerators at warehouses in Tracy and Mira Loma, the California Air Resources Board announced last week.

The Washington-based wholesale company filed late, incomplete reports about the refrigerators, which are mounted on shipping containers, rail cars and trucks.

Facilities with 20 or more refrigerated loading docks are required to record activities that cause pollution, the air board said.

Peralta Community College District in Alameda County will get one-quarter of the fine to pay for diesel education courses. The California Air Pollution Control Fund, which pays for air quality education and offers grants to promote cleaner technology, will get the remaining $30,150.

The wholesalers also volunteered information to the agency about operating schedules at each distribution center.

The air board has been cracking down on diesel particulate matter pollution recently, a decade after it was declared toxic to humans.

"Significant numbers of these engines congregate at distribution centers, truck stops and other facilities," said air board spokeswoman Gennet Paauwe.  "The potential health risks from toxic diesel exhaust is a concern for those that live and work nearby."

This is the third time the state has fined a company for this violation since last year.

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written by Dale Cose , May 14, 2008

Of course, everyone knows I'm a bozo.