A Sonoma County-based construction materials manufacturer has agreed to pay nearly $1.3 million to settle allegations that it repeatedly violated regional air pollution rules over a four-year period.
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The settlement involves BoDean Company, Inc. and the Bay Area Air District, which oversees air quality regulations across nine Bay Area counties.
Regulators alleged the company committed nine separate violations between 2021 and 2025 at facilities in Santa Rosa and Windsor.
According to a statement released Tuesday by the Bay Area Air District, the violations involved incidents that allegedly produced sustained black smoke, strong odors and emissions exceeding allowable pollution thresholds.
Seven of the violations were recorded at BoDean’s Santa Rosa construction materials plant at 1060 Maxwell Drive. The remaining two occurred at the company’s concrete recycling facility at 490 Caletti Avenue in Windsor.
The Air District said some of the violations in August and September 2022 were tied to what it described as “significant unauthorized operations” of equipment used to manufacture rubberized asphalt — a paving material made by combining recycled tire rubber with asphalt binder, as defined by the state Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery.
Air regulators stated that the incidents caused significant disruption to nearby residents, particularly due to visible smoke and odors.
"Air quality rules exist to prevent harm to the public, and they apply to everyone," said Philip Fine, the Air District's executive officer. "This penalty makes clear that violations have consequences and that facilities are expected to always comply with air quality requirements."
The $1.28 million fine was agreed to as part of a legal settlement. Under the agreement, BoDean maintains its denial of the allegations. However, the settlement also affirms that the alleged violations have been corrected and that the facilities are now in compliance with air quality standards.
The company did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday afternoon.
Funds collected through the settlement will be directed toward projects aimed at improving air quality across the nine counties served by the Bay Area Air District. Those counties include major population centers such as San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, and Sonoma.
BoDean operates facilities in Santa Rosa, Forestville and Windsor and produces a range of construction materials including asphalt, concrete and aggregates used in paving and infrastructure projects. The company’s products are widely used in public works and private construction throughout Northern California.
Air quality enforcement actions such as this one reflect increasing scrutiny on industrial emissions in fast-growing regions like Sonoma County. As residential development continues to expand near long-standing industrial zones, concerns over air pollution, odors and environmental health have become more prominent.
Sustained black smoke and excess particulate emissions can contribute to respiratory irritation and other health risks, particularly for children, seniors and individuals with asthma or other lung conditions. Regulators have emphasized that compliance with emissions standards is critical to protecting vulnerable communities.
The Bay Area Air District has ramped up monitoring and enforcement efforts in recent years, focusing on facilities with repeat complaints or documented exceedances.
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While the settlement resolves the current allegations, regulators have signaled that ongoing compliance will be closely monitored. Companies found to repeatedly violate air quality rules may face escalating penalties or additional enforcement measures.
For residents living near the Santa Rosa and Windsor facilities, the settlement brings formal closure to a multi-year enforcement case — and a clear message from regulators that air pollution violations will carry financial consequences.
Originally reported by Thomas Hughes/Bay City News in Northern California Public Media.
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