Los Angeles - City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto announced today that Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P. has agreed to pay $7.66 million to resolve a statewide civil enforcement action alleging violations of California environmental and hazardous materials laws at facilities throughout the state.
City Attorney Feldstein Soto’s office joined 21 District Attorneys’ offices across California in the enforcement action against Penske, a truck leasing and fleet maintenance company that operates facilities throughout the state.
"California’s environmental protection laws are designed to protect our communities, our workers, our first responders and our environment,” said Hydee Feldstein Soto, Los Angeles City Attorney. “Companies that handle hazardous materials and hazardous waste have a responsibility to comply with these critical safeguards, and we will continue working with our partners throughout California to hold businesses accountable when they fail to do so.”
Penske allegedly violated state laws governing underground storage tanks, aboveground petroleum storage, hazardous waste, and hazardous materials business plans at facilities it operates throughout California. The alleged violations included failures to comply with requirements governing underground storage tank monitoring and maintenance, hazardous waste handling and storage, hazardous materials reporting, and aboveground petroleum storage.
Under the settlement, Penske will pay $6,573,750 in civil penalties, $488,250 in investigative costs and $598,000 for supplemental environmental projects.
Penske also will be required to make changes to its environmental compliance protocols and facilities, including hiring an environmental compliance manager to oversee compliance with California laws governing underground storage tanks, hazardous waste, hazardous materials, and aboveground storage tanks.
As part of the settlement, Penske also committed to remove or replace aging double-walled underground storage tank systems with upgraded systems featuring enhanced secondary containment monitoring at 12 locations in California.
The stipulated final judgment will remain in place for a minimum of five years.
The investigation began after the San Bernardino County Certified Unified Program Agency referred the matter to prosecutors following alleged underground storage tank violations at Penske facilities. The investigation later expanded to include facilities and enforcement agencies throughout California.
The Public Rights Branch within the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office managed this litigation.
Case No. CIVSB2621440
The People of the State of California v. Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P.
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Hydee Feldstein Soto is the 43rd Los Angeles City Attorney, elected in November 2022 and sworn into office in December 2022. Her team of nearly 1,000 legal professionals, including 500+ attorneys, carries out legal work for the City of Los Angeles at her direction and under her supervision. She is the first female City Attorney in L.A. history.