Automotive retailer settles environmental protection suit
SAN JOSE >> AutoNation, the country’s largest automotive retailer, has been ordered to pay $2.1 million in penalties for illegally disposing of hazardous waste, as well as violating laws related to the storage of such materials and the disposal of customer records, prosecutors said.
The fines are part of a $3.38 million settlement of a lawsuit filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court by Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeffrey Rosen, Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley and six other California district attorneys.
“When a car goes in for service, what comes out of the car is usually not good for the environment,” said Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Bud Porter. “Auto mechanics and body shops need to be on their best behavior when it comes to handling hazardous waste.”
The case began in 2013, when Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health inspectors spotted hazardous waste violations inside the service departments of several AutoNation dealerships, according to prosecutors. Investigators with the Santa Clara and Alameda county district attorney’s offices carried out undercover inspections of the dealerships’ trash containers, which allegedly revealed the illegal disposal of automotive fluids, partially filled aerosol cans, used oil filters, electronic waste and used motor oil.
Also discovered were invoices and other documents containing the personal information of customers.
In addition to the penalties, AutoNation agreed to pay $380,000 in costs and to spend $900,000 on projects designed to enhance their compliance with hazardous waste laws.
The company will also add a full-time director to monitor environmental compliance and training.
“Today’s settlement demonstrates my office’s continued commitment to making the environment cleaner and safer for the citizens of Alameda County and California by preventing hazardous automotive waste from contaminating our natural resources,” O’Malley said.
A spokesman for AutoNation could not be immediately reached for comment Monday night.