Politics & Government
Auto Parts Supply Chain Settles Suit Alleging Improper Waste Disposal for $10 Million
"Cases such as this are crucial in maintaining the safety of the public and our environment," Riverside County DA Mike Hestrin said.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA - O'Reilly Auto Parts will pay almost $10 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that its stores in Riverside County and elsewhere in California improperly disposed of used oil and other hazardous wastes, it was announced Thursday.
"Cases such as this are crucial in maintaining the safety of the public and our environment," Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin said. "The Riverside County Department of Environmental Health was instrumental in discovering the issues found here and in bringing O'Reilly into compliance."
Fifty district attorneys' offices signed onto the civil action against O'Reilly. The case was heard in Alameda County, and Superior Court Judge Brad Seligman in Oakland certified the settlement between the defendant and the DAs on Wednesday.
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The $9.87 million payment and other terms resolve allegations that more than 525 O'Reilly stores in California unlawfully handled and disposed of used oil, used oil filters, automotive fluids, alkaline batteries, aerosol cans and other toxic wastes and materials over a five-year period.
O'Reilly operates 31 stores and one distribution center in Riverside County.
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Environmental inspectors and regulators conducted a series of undercover inspections in 2013 and 2014 of waste bins originating at O'Reilly stores, uncovering evidence that employees had been routinely discarding used oil and other hazardous wastes bound for landfills statewide. The actions were in direct violation of California's environmental regulations, according to prosecutors.
O'Reilly was cooperative during the investigation and quickly enhanced its policies and procedures to eliminate improper disposal of hazardous materials, prosecutors said.
Of the total settlement, Riverside County will receive $611,000, most of which will go to the DA's office for environmental enforcement investigations and litigation, while a smaller amount will be allocated to the Department of Environmental Health.
— By City News Service / Image via Shutterstock
