AutoZone Accused of Dumping in California
The state attorney general and three county prosecutors sued the auto-parts chain AutoZone on Wednesday, accusing it of illegally dumping hazardous waste at many of the company’s 410 California stores.
Hazardous materials were illegally dumped in storm drains and used oil and filters were improperly stored or removed, according to the $12-million lawsuit filed by the attorney general’s office and prosecutors in Monterey, San Bernardino and San Joaquin counties.
The suit does not specify the number of alleged violations, but Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer said in a statement that prosecutors believe almost all of the chain’s California outlets were involved.
“We are bringing this enforcement action to show California’s hazardous waste laws aren’t just words in a code book,” he said.
AutoZone spokesman Ray Pohlman countered: “The allegations made by the attorney general are gross misrepresentations of the facts, and we look forward to the opportunity to defend our position in court.”
The San Bernardino County Fire Department found hazardous waste violations at an AutoZone facility in San Bernardino. Additional violations were found at all of about 50 stores investigated in San Bernardino, Monterey and San Joaquin counties, according to Lockyer’s office.
Those findings led prosecutors to believe that most of the company’s 410 California stores have violated waste laws, according to Lockyer’s office.
The company has not corrected any of the violations, the suit said.
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