Tesla Pays EPA $275,000 in Clean Air Settlement • Dientes’ Tiffany Turner Wins National Award • Got Inflation? Tell Us About It

COMMUNITY NEWS

Tesla Pays EPA $275,000 in Clean Air Settlement

On Feb. 22, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a settlement with Tesla Motors Inc. in which the electric car-maker agreed to pay a $275,000 penalty.

EPA found Clean Air Act violations at their auto manufacturing plant in Fremont, which applied coating materials containing formaldehyde, ethylbenzene, naphthalene and xylene.

Based on several information requests to Tesla, EPA determined the company violated federal regulations under the Clean Air Act from October 2016 through September 2019 by: • Failing to develop and/or implement a work practice plan to minimize hazardous air pollutants emissions from the storage and mixing of materials used in vehicle coating operations. • Failing to correctly perform required monthly emissions calculations needed to demonstrate that coating operations complied with federal standards on hazardous air pollutants, which are known to cause cancer. • Failing to collect and keep all required records associated with the calculation of the hazardous air pollutants emission rate for Tesla’s coating operations.

The EPA said Tesla has corrected the violations and returned to compliance.

Tesla targets buyers concerned about the environment, boasting lower carbon dioxide emissions. The 2022 Model S starts at $44,900 and up while the high-end Model X starts at $104,990.

“Today’s enforcement action against Tesla reflects EPA’s continued commitment to ensure compliance with federal clean air laws,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman.

People living in communities near sources of hazardous air pollutants may face significant risks to their health and environment.

According to the EPA, the list of hazardous air pollutants includes more than 180 chemicals known to cause cancer or other serious health effects.

The EPA said the settlement aligns with EPA’s National Compliance Initiative, Creating Cleaner Air for Communities by Reducing Excess Emissions of Harmful Pollutants. n

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For info on Clean Air Act enforcement: www.epa.gov/enforcement/air-enforcement

Dientes’ Tiffany Turner Wins National Award

Tiffany Turner, chief operations officer at Dientes Community Dental Care in Santa Cruz, was honored with the prestigious Emerging Leader Award at the National Association of Community Health Centers Policies and Issues annual conference in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 16.

The Emerging Leader Award is given by George Washington University’s Geiger Gibson Program in Community Health Policy to exceptional young leaders whose work has helped further health care and better health for medically underserved patients, communities, and special populations.

Turner’s initiative throughout the pandemic enabled Dientes to reopen its

clinics following strict protocols after a two-month shutdown for all but emergency visits. Her attention to detail has resulted in zero COVID outbreaks in Dientes’ clinics to date, colleagues said. “Her high expectations, guidance to achieve goals, and team-orientation, combined with on-the-job experience, has allowed multiple front-line staff to advance without formal management training,” said Dientes CEO Laura Marcus. She added, “Ms. Turner goes above and beyond to mentor and Tiffany Turner promote women of color to leadership positions … We couldn’t be prouder to have a young woman of this caliber leading our operations. She is an inspiration.” n

Got Inflation? Tell Us About It

How is inflation affecting you?

In its fourth quarter report, Yelp says consumers described more inflationary experiences in their 2021 reviews than ever before.

In 2021, mentions of higher costs reached a fiveyear peak — 49% higher than at the onset of the pandemic in the second quarter of 2020.

For the April 1 Aptos Times, let us know how prices have changed for you: Rent? Groceries? PG&E bills? Gasoline? Used cars? To stick within your budget, have you cut back on other spending?

Tell us in 50-100 words we can share with readers. Email Editor Jondi Gumz at info@cyber-times.com n