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.”…