Sonoma Materials Ordered to Pay $50,000in Environmental Enforcement Case

District Attorney Jill Ravitch has announced that defendant Sonoma Materials, a landscape supply business located at 21040 Broadway in Sonoma, agreed to pay $75,000 for violations of environmental protection laws, including its failure to submit a hazardous materials business plan and to create a spill response plan for an above ground storage tank.

The civil case was filed after the landscape supply business ignored repeated notices of violation issued by Sonoma County Fire and Emergency Services for failing to submit a hazardous materials business plan for its 21040 Broadway location in Sonoma since 2014. The business plan is required to inform first responders what hazardous materials are on site and where they are located.

Businesses are also required to show proof of employee training in the plan, among other things. Sonoma Materials also failed to provide a spill response plan for an above ground storage tank and proof of training for employees for emergency response.

After the case was referred to the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Environmental and Consumer Law Division, a civil complaint was filed. The business cooperated with the DA’s Office and agreed to resolve the case with an injunction ordering submission of its hazardous materials and spill response plans, along with employee training, for seven years. The business agreed to use a consultant to submit the plans and to pay $75,000 as civil penalties and costs. As part of the agreement, $25,000 of this amount will be suspended and will not be paid, except in the event of a future violation.

District Attorney Ravitch stated, “First responders must be told what hazardous materials a business has on site when they are tasked with responding during emergencies, including fires. Business owners must follow directives from first responders and comply with environmental protection laws, especially in times like these.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Ann Gallagher White, assisted by District Attorney Investigator Mark Azzouni. Fire Services Officer Andrew Parsons of Sonoma County Fire and Emergency Services headed the investigation.