California Hits Anheuser-Busch With $500,000 Fine For Violating Air Pollution Laws

The California Air Resources Board (CARB)  levied a $500,000 fine against Anheuser-Busch Inbev NV BUD for violating the state's air pollution laws, the agency announced on July 1. The brewing company's California fleet is based in San Diego.

Half of the fine will support the state's research on air pollution and the other half will be used for the South L.A. Urban Greening and Community Forestry Project.

According to a CARB press release, the St. Louis-based brewer failed to properly self-inspect 19 diesel trucks, as required by the Periodic Smoke Inspection Program (PSIP), to ensure they met state smoke emission standards. 

In addition, CARB staff discovered that Anheuser-Busch was not in compliance with the state's truck and bus diesel emissions rule because it failed to meet required compliance deadlines.

As FreightWaves reported here, CARB continues to ramp up enforcement of heavy-duty truck diesel emissions regulations. Starting in 2020, non-compliant trucks will not be able to register with the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

Anheuser-Busch, which last year ordered 800 hydrogen-powered semis from Nikola Motor Co., agreed to pay the fine and will bring its vehicles into compliance with state standards, according to the release. The company will also require staff members who oversee diesel smoke inspection to attend training classes and provide inspection details to the state for the next two years.

Anheuser-Busch did not immediately respond to a FreightWaves request for comment. 

"California has some of the country's poorest air quality and because of this, our laws are tough to protect public health," said Todd Sax, CARB's enforcement division chief, in the release. "All businesses must do their part to ensure their fleets are fully compliant with California's anti-pollution regulations that are designed to clean our air and protect our children."

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