Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price Announces a Major Settlement Agreement with the California Department of General Services for Environmental Law Violations
April 12, 2024
Oakland, CA— Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price announces Alameda County will receive $879,333 in civil penalties in a settlement agreement reached earlier this week with the California Department of General Services (DGS). The District Attorney’s Consumer Justice Bureau partnered with the Sacramento District Attorney’s Office in a statewide environmental enforcement action against DGS.
The settlement agreement resolves DGS’s environmental violations in maintaining its Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) at several facilities in Sacramento and one in Oakland, as well as hazardous materials handling violations in Sacramento. DGS agreed to a total settlement of $2,665,000, including civil penalties, costs, and a Supplemental Environmental Project to promote statewide environmental training and enforcement efforts.
“The State of California, like any other entity, is liable for ensuring it follows the laws meant to protect the public and our environment and the disposal of hazardous materials,” said District Attorney Pamela Price. “This is another example of my office’s commitment to hold government agencies accountable when they fail to protect public health and the environment from harm because of unlawful mismanagement.”
In January 2023, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office joined an investigation initiated by the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office following earlier administrative and civil enforcement proceedings against DGS in Sacramento County. The Alameda County Department of Environmental Health’s inspections of the Elihu Harris State Building in Downtown Oakland uncovered that DGS failed to perform required inspections and testing, operated its USTs without a permit, did not provide the required training to employees, failed to maintain proper records, and did not properly label, mark and store containers of hazardous waste.
Of the $2,665,000 total DGS settlement, $2,260,000 in civil penalties will be divided between Alameda County, Sacramento County, and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, and $55,000 in costs will be divided between Alameda and Sacramento Counties. An additional $350,000 will be paid to fund a Supplemental Environmental Project to promote statewide environmental training and enforcement efforts.
Of the $879,333 in civil penalties Alameda County is receiving, $813,833 will go to the Alameda County Department of Environmental Health, $45,500 will go to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, and $20,000 will reimburse the District Attorney’s costs.
DGS also agreed to a permanent injunction requiring it to follow environmental laws and regulations regarding the proper maintenance and operation of its statewide Underground Storage Tanks and the above-ground petroleum storage, and its handling of hazardous materials.
Contact: damedia@acgov.org