Hundreds Of Verizon Cell Towers In SoCal Were In Violation, $7.7 Million Settlement Announced

Verizon Wireless will pay $7.7 million to resolve a case involving environmental violations at hundreds of the company’s wireless telecommunication cell towers in Southern California, it was announced Friday.

According to the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office, Verizon repeatedly failed to properly document how it was managing hazardous materials at the cell towers and failed to allow inspections at the sites.

"Beginning in January 2019, violations occurred at numerous Verizon cell towers where hazardous materials and above-ground petroleum storage tanks are used to power emergency generators and backup systems," according to the DA's office. "Verizon stores and uses materials such as lead acid batteries and petroleum products at these sites, which require detailed reporting and proper hazardous materials management under California law."

The complaint against Verizon alleges the company repeatedly failed to submit complete and accurate Hazardous Materials Business Plans to the California Environmental Reporting System; failed to maintain copies of these plans onsite as required; and failed to provide adequate employee training for responding to hazardous material releases.

Verizon also failed to allow inspections at multiple locations and failed to pay required permit fees that support local oversight of hazardous materials, according to the complaint.

The requirements exist to ensure that first responders, environmental regulators, and public safety officials have accurate information about hazardous materials stored at commercial sites in the event of an emergency, the DA's office said.

"Verizon’s failure to comply with law that govern hazardous materials created avoidable risks," San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson said. "The investigation found consistent gaps in required reporting, employee training, and inspection access across hundreds of facilities. This judgment ensures accountability while strengthening transparency for first responders at thousands of cell towers and requires that Verizon maintain compliance going forward."

Verizon was brought into compliance only after investigative agencies approached the company regarding its violations, the DA's office said.

There was no evidence of environmental harm at the facilities, according to prosecutors.

The case against Verizon was filed in Orange County Superior Court by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and brought by the District Attorneys of Ventura, Los Angeles, Imperial, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties, along with the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office.

The $7.7 million judgment includes $7,125,000 in civil penalties, $200,000 in investigative costs, and $375,000 in Supplemental Environmental Projects, according to the San Bernardino County DA's Office.