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New law requires California air board to explain its fines State air pollution regulators must explain how they issue fines to businesses under a new law signed Tuesday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The California Air Resources Board also must provide an annual report to the state Legislature and the governor summarizing fines that it issues to businesses that violate the state's emissions laws for vehicles. "CARB holds businesses accountable when they violate the California regulations they oversee," said state Sen. Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga, the bill's author. "The problem is that there was nothing that held CARB accountable in how the penalties were determined or the reason for the violation." The new law, SB 1402, requires ARB to explain how it assesses a penalty and to cite the specific code that a company violated. Dutton said the measure takes effect immediately because it contained an urgency clause and was approved by more than two-thirds of the Legislature. The law was backed by California manufacturers, and moving and storage companies, which believe the state agency lacks transparency. Opponents included the pollution agency itself, which says it already does what the law requires. Agency spokeswoman Karen Caesar said the agency works closely with companies to explain the nature of any fines. She added that the board has published annual enforcement reports going back to at least 1998. "We already have a transparent process," she said. Source: Sacramento Bee |
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