Apple fined for air pollution in Sacramento
updated 06:25 pm EDT, Tue April 17, 2007
Apple fined for pollution
Already under attack by Greenpeace for its environmental policies, a new report indicates that Apple will pay $43,200 in penalties to the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District for an air quality violation that occurred at its Elk Grove facility in April 2006, according to the Sacramento Business Journal. "When a business neglects to observe air quality regulations the health of our citizens is jeopardized," district executive director Larry Greene said in a news release. The report says the violation occurred over several days as Apple operated its emergency standby generator for a purpose other than maintenance or emergency power. Apple was notified that it violated its permit requirements April 21, 2006 and the report says the penalty is part of a settlement between the district and Apple to resolve violations of air district regulations. The air district's voluntary settlement program is designed to prevent litigation.
Earlier this year, Greenpeace activists said that Apple could be preparing to clean up its manufacturing process, which the group says contains hazardous substances. Apple came under fire on several occasions in recent months from the environmental organization, which placed the Cupertino-based company in last place with regard to environmental issues in early December of 2006 after the Mac-maker scored extremely low on a Greenpeace environmental report card detailing the use of toxic chemicals.












Good for Sacramento
04/17, 08:21pm reply
As much as I love Apple and their products - they should also be good stewards of the environment, as should we all. Just like any other company.
UpQuark
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Joined: May 2005
good but...
04/17, 10:17pm reply
now we get to hear GreenPiece spew off about this..
eldarkus
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re: good but...
04/17, 10:52pm reply
that's exactly what went through my mind when I read the headline on the front page.
FastAMX79
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And the big deal is what?
04/17, 11:08pm reply
What, are you kidding? Number one, there must have been some reason to run generators, number two, here we are living in a world where any Tom or d*** can plunk down a few thousand dollars for an outdoor shack furnace exempt from EPA rules on woodstoves, and burn garbage to heat his home. So, by economy of scale, why are we spanking Apple for running a few generators for a few days, when literallty thousands of people are heating their homes by burning pallets and household trash? For that matter, why do we not mandate >90% efficiency in new home heating units, since that technology is readily available? Again, economy of scale. Regulating new home heating units would actually make a difference. Worry about Apple burning a few gallons of diesel in what are likely modern generators. duh,
macbones
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But then,
04/18, 01:54am reply
change has to start somewhere. The big corps. that can afford the better technology are a good place. If you're worried about auto emissions hurting the environment, then you should know it's #2 after buildings. Personally, I don't buy into the dire need to save the planet from global climate change (although clean air is nice enough). Making complexes more efficient is better in the sense of economy, if nothing else.
Your average wood-burner may not have the means to have a more sustainable design, but once the big cats make such things part of the main stream, the alternative energy sources and more efficient appliances become more affordable and become a fiscal possibility.
To their credit, it wouldn't surprise me how much more strict regulations are in that area. Now if there were only methods to deal with that cover of smug hovering in and about San Fran...
danviento
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burner
04/18, 07:38am reply
"Your average wood-burner may not have the means to have a more sustainable design" Actually, the technology is available in the market, and, it in fact pays for itself in a few years. Unfortunately, without rules most industries will fall to the absolute lolwest common denominator. The woodburning shack industry is allowed to misrepresent and talk around the low efficiency of their product, (73%) for about the same price.
Money being tight should not be a licence to put 10 or 15 more tons of CO2 into the air.
macbones
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in related news
04/18, 09:34am reply
Anonymous reports have been received that a small number of Apple employees actually drove their cars to work, which, if verified, will result in an additional fine of $50,000.
ethical_paul
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duh, they broke the law
04/19, 02:24am reply
I don't understand why people are acting so smug about this. Apple violated a law. They agreed to only run some power generators in certain situations and they violated that, and now they have to pay. Use sarcasm if you like but Apple is likely receiving a lot of tax rebates and other incentives, as all companies receive when they move a major facility into a city. IN exchange they need to abide by the laws and regulations of that area. Otherwise evyerbody could just use as much electricty as they want, dump whatever they want into the local rivers, pump whatever toxins into the air they want AND get rewarded from the city in forms of tax rebates.
fubar_this
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