CARB flunks nation’s largest school bus company

Central Valley Business Times, September 3, 2009 12:16pm

•  Must pay $300,000 for diesel emissions violations

•  ‘Routine school bus emissions inspections minimize exposure to diesel soot’

The California Air Resources Board has fined First Student Inc., a unit of UK-based bus and train operator FirstGroup, $300,000 for diesel emissions violations of its school bus fleet that occurred in 2005 and 2006 at locations throughout California .

A routine CARB inspection found that the company, formerly known as Laidlaw that provides transportation services to schools throughout California and the nation had not properly maintained diesel emissions records of its school bus fleets as required by state law.

Not performing the required smoke emissions inspections can lead to increased cancer-causing diesel emissions, says CARB.

“Routine school bus emissions inspections minimize exposure to diesel soot,” says CARB Chairman Mary Nichols. “Children are particularly vulnerable to diesel exhaust, which is known to worsen and even cause childhood asthma.”

http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=12985