Backup power equipment at wireless cell sites, including petroleum storage tanks and battery systems, was at the center of a $7.7 million California enforcement action against Verizon Wireless for hazardous materials reporting, permitting, and compliance violations at hundreds of locations.
Verizon Wireless will pay $7.7 million to resolve a statewide civil enforcement action alleging widespread violations of California environmental laws governing hazardous materials at hundreds of the company’s wireless cell tower sites, according to multiple district attorneys’ offices involved in the case.
San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson announced the settlement, stating that violations dating back to January 2019 revealed systemic failures in hazardous materials reporting, employee training, and regulatory access at Verizon-owned facilities across Southern California.
“Verizon’s failure to comply with laws that govern hazardous materials created avoidable risks,” 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.”
The case centers on Verizon’s storage and use of lead-acid batteries and petroleum products, including aboveground petroleum storage tanks used to power emergency generators and backup systems at cell sites. California law requires companies storing hazardous materials above certain thresholds to submit accurate Hazardous Materials Business Plans (HMBPs) to the California Environmental Reporting System, maintain copies onsite, train employees, allow inspections, and pay permit fees supporting local oversight.
According to the complaint, Verizon repeatedly failed to submit complete and accurate hazardous materials plans, failed to maintain required documentation at tower locations, failed to provide adequate employee training for hazardous material releases, denied inspectors access at multiple sites, and failed to pay required permit fees.
While prosecutors said there was no evidence of environmental harm, they emphasized that the violations undermined public safety by limiting the ability of first responders and environmental regulators to access critical information during emergencies.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said the settlement reinforces that even the largest corporations must comply with environmental regulations.
“Companies that store hazardous materials have a legal obligation to protect the public, first responders, and the environment,” Hochman said. “This settlement underscores that even the largest corporations must follow California’s environmental laws, and when they don’t, they will be held accountable.”
The investigation was led by the District Attorney’s Offices of Orange County and San Bernardino County, along with the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, and involved district attorneys from Los Angeles, Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura counties.
The case was filed in Orange County Superior Court and resolved under a stipulated final judgment signed by Judge Richard Y. Lee. Deputy District Attorney Stephanie Weissman prosecuted the case for San Bernardino County, while Deputy District Attorney Daniel Wright of Los Angeles County’s Environmental Crimes Division also played a key role.
Under the settlement, Verizon will pay:
- $7,125,000 in civil penalties
- $375,000 in Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs)
- $200,000 in investigative costs
San Bernardino County will receive more than $1.1 million in penalties and costs, with funds allocated to both the District Attorney’s Office and the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District’s Hazardous Materials Division. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office will receive more than $800,000, primarily to support the prosecution of environmental crime cases.
Prosecutors said Verizon was brought into compliance only after investigative agencies approached the company regarding the violations. Following the notification, Verizon cooperated with authorities, paid outstanding permit fees, corrected deficiencies, and implemented policies and procedures designed to ensure future compliance.
Verizon Wireless, operated by Cellco Partnership, is the largest provider of mobile telephone services in the United States and owns and operates thousands of cell sites across California.
