Thermo King Pays $213,200 Penalty for Violating State Air Pollution Laws

If you follow the story all the way though, Thermo King had a particulate filter that was conditionally verified for 3 years from June 24, 2008. So June 24, 2008, their conditional verification expired.  Thermo King was ultimately awarded full verification of their
particulate filters in August 2012

Thermo King pays $213,200 penalty for violating state air
pollution laws

Company sold diesel particulate filters after conditional
verification expired

SACRAMENTO - The Air Resources Board has fined Minneapolis-based
Thermo King Corporation $213,200 for violating terms of the
conditional verification granted to its Thermo King eDPF (diesel
particulate filter).

These filters are used to reduce emissions from the Auxiliary
Power Units (APUs) which allow heavy duty trucks to use air
conditioning, heat and other functions without the need for
engine idling.

“Conditional verifications provide manufacturers with flexibility
in complying with California’s emissions reduction requirements
but they expire after a specific time period,” said ARB
Enforcement Chief Jim Ryden. “Full verification is granted only
after manufacturers complete required durability testing and meet
all terms of the conditional verification.”

On June 24, 2008, the Thermo King particulate filter was
conditionally verified for use on APUs for a period not to exceed
three years.  The Air Resources Board staff learned that the
company continued to sell the filters after the verification
expired in 2011.  To settle the case, Thermo King Corporation
agreed to pay $213,200 to the California Air Pollution Control
Fund, which supports air quality improvement efforts and
research.  The company also agreed to comply with the ARB
verification procedure, and to sell filters in the future only
with ARB’s written approval.  Customers who installed Thermo King
particulate filters will not be penalized.  Instead, the warranty
for their filters was extended to 3000 hours.

Thermo King was ultimately awarded full verification of their
particulate filters in August 2012.

Diesel exhaust contains a variety of harmful gases and over 40
other known cancer-causing compounds. In 1998, California
identified diesel particulate matter as a toxic air contaminant
based on its potential to cause cancer, premature death and other
health problems.


ARB's mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare,
and ecological resources through effective reduction of air
pollutants while recognizing and considering effects on the
economy. The ARB oversees all air pollution control efforts in
California to attain and maintain health based air quality
standards.