WM responds to settlement with Air Resources Board

In response to the article that ran on Nov. 30 and a Dec. 14 Letter to the Editor, I wanted to clarify the situation between Waste Management and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) as it relates specifically to Ventura County and the city of Simi Valley.

The fact is there were only four trucks from the Waste Management/GI Industries yard that were involved in this settlement.

While these trucks were in compliance in terms of the operational changes necessary to satisfy emissions requirements, the records documenting these changes were not compliant with state requirements. Bottom line is, we didn't do the paperwork right, but we did make sure the trucks were burning as clean as the state required.

While this incident was a disappointment to those of us who work at WM, we continue to be proud of being a leader in clean trucks and lowering emissions- with more than 40 alternative-fuel trucks running locally here in Ventura County.

Statewide, Waste Management has the largest fleet of low-emission trucks and has been recognized nationwide and statewide as a leader in lowering emissions and helping clean air. Our commitment to the environment has also been recognized locally by the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District.

Waste Management takes very seriously our responsibility to protect the environment and comply with local and state environmental laws. As a result of the settlement with CARB, Waste Management has established a new statewide environmental compliance position, a full-time staff person whose sole job it is to ensure compliance with CARB reporting and emissions standards.

I would encourage anyone in the community who has questions about this issue to call me directly at my office, (805) 955-4301. Mike Smith Market area general manager for Ventura County Waste Management