Author Archives: News Releases

On March 11, 2019, Simi Valley-based Simi Auto Spa & Speed Wash illegally disposed of hazardous waste into an on-site storm drain that directly connects to the Arroyo Simi waterway which turned the waterway bright green. The hazardous waste, auto detailing wax, contained the chemical sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate, which is acutely toxic to aquatic life. In a stipulated Final Judgment, Sam’s KH Corp. agreed to pay $65,000 in civil penalties, $37,405 in cost reimbursement to multiple responding state and county agencies, and an injunction prohibiting the business from unlawfully disposing of chemicals into the waterway.

A multi-agency investigation revealed that Fruit Growers Supply sold restricted pesticides to non-permitted users numerous times in 2019 and 2020. These pesticides included Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs) which have been identified in more than 90 percent of tested deceased mountain lions, 88 percent of tested deceased bobcats, 85 percent of tested deceased protected Pacific fishers, and 70 percent of tested deceased northern spotted owls. In a stipulated Final Judgment, Fruit Growers Supply agreed to pay $625,000 in civil penalties, restitution, and supplemental environmental projects.

A spontaneous fire from store waste led to an investigation directed by the District Attorney’s Office which discovered that Bed Bath and Beyond was systematically sending regulated hazardous wastes from stores to local landfills throughout California. In a stipulated Final Judgment, Bed Bath and Beyond agreed to pay $1,327,500 in civil penalties and reimbursement of investigation and prosecution costs, and $171,250 to fund environmental enforcement in California. Bed Bath & Beyond cooperated during the investigation and dedicated additional resources towards environmental compliance.