Local news- Press Release
Monterey County California - Tesla Inc Pays $1 5 Million For Illegal Disposal Of Hazardous Waste At Its California Service Centers Energy Centers And Its Fremont Factory 01 February 2024 ( news )
Monterey County , state California ( By Press Release office)
Feb 01,2024
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SALINAS , California – Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M . Pacioni , along with 24 other District Attorneys throughout California , announced today that a judge in San Joaquin County has ordered Tesla , Inc . to pay $1 . 5 million in civil penalties and costs as part of a settlement of an environmental prosecution alleging the electric car company illegally disposed of hazardous waste at its car service centers , energy centers , and its Fremont factory .
Tesla , Inc . , a Delaware corporation , currently owns and operates approximately 57 car service centers and 18 solar energy facilities throughout California . It also manufactures electric vehicles at its Fremont Factory in Alameda County .
In the complaint , prosecutors alleged Tesla illegally disposed of hazardous waste generated during its servicing and manufacturing of its electric vehicles in violation of California law establishing the proper control , storage , management , and disposal of hazardous waste .
The investigation began in 2018 when San Francisco District Attorney investigators conducted undercover inspections of Tesla’s trash containers at its car service centers , which revealed the illegal disposal of numerous used hazardous automotive components ( such as lubricating oils , brake cleaners , lead acid and other batteries , aerosols , antifreeze , waste solvents and other cleaners , electronic waste , waste paint , and debris contaminated with the above ) . Following this discovery , District Attorney investigators from Monterey , Alameda , Orange , Placer , Riverside , San Diego , and San Joaquin counties conducted additional inspections at Tesla’s car service centers throughout California and found similar unlawful disposals . Alameda County District Attorney investigators also conducted waste inspections of trash containers at the Fremont Factory and found Tesla’s unlawful disposal of additional hazardous wastes , including metal car panel welding spatter waste ( which can contain copper ) , waste paint mix cups produced during paint repair and wipes/debris contaminated with primer .
The case is brought by the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office and 24 other California District Attorneys’ Offices where Tesla’s factory , car service centers , and energy locations are located . Tesla cooperated with the District Attorneys’ investigation and took steps to improve its compliance with the environmental protection laws brought to its attention by the prosecutors . After Tesla was notified of the issues , they began quarantining and screening trash containers for hazardous waste at all of its service centers before trash was brought to the landfill .
As part of the settlement , Tesla is ordered to pay $1 , 300 , 000 in civil penalties as well as $200 , 000 to reimburse the costs of the investigation . Tesla is also ordered to comply with a detailed injunction for five years . Injunctive compliance measures include proper training of employees and the hiring of a third party to conduct annual waste audits of its trash containers at ten percent of its facilities . These audits will occur each year for five years and auditors will examine trash containers for hazardous waste .
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