January 2, 2026: Verizon Wireless to Pay $7.7 Million to Settle Environmental Violations Following Statewide Investigation

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office will receive more than $800,000 from the settlement, mostly to help prosecute environmental crime cases

LOS ANGELES - Verizon Wireless will pay $7.7 million to settle a civil enforcement action alleging widespread violations of California environmental laws governing hazardous materials storage, reporting and permitting at cell tower sites throughout the state.

"Companies that store hazardous materials have a legal obligation to protect the public, first responders, and the environment," Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said. "I thank Deputy District Attorney Daniel Wright of our Environmental Crimes Division and our local district attorney partners for their diligent prosecution of this case. 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 settlement, signed today by Orange County Superior Court Judge Richard Y. Lee, resolves allegations that Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, failed to properly report hazardous materials, pay required permit fees, allow regulatory inspections, and comply with laws regulating aboveground petroleum storage tanks used to power emergency generators and backup systems.

Verizon Wireless is the largest provider of mobile telephone services in the United States and owns and operates thousands of cell sites across California. Many of these sites store hazardous materials that, if improperly managed, can pose serious risks including fires, explosions, and the release of toxic chemical air contaminants. California law requires permits, accurate reporting, employee training, and access for inspections when hazardous materials are stored above certain threshold quantities.

Hazardous materials release and response plans are designed to protect public health and safety by ensuring that first responders, environmental regulators, and public safety officials have accurate information during emergencies. These plans must include a hazardous materials inventory, site maps, emergency response procedures, and employee training protocols.

The investigation, led by the District Attorney's Offices of Orange County and San Bernardino County along with the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, found that beginning in 2019 Verizon failed at multiple locations to comply with hazardous materials reporting requirements, provide required training, allow on-site inspections, and pay hazardous materials permit fees.

After being notified of the violations, Verizon cooperated with prosecutors, agreed to pay all outstanding permit fees, corrected the violations, and implemented policies and procedures to ensure future compliance.

Under the stipulated final judgment, Verizon will pay a total of $7,700,000, including:

• $7,125,000 in civil penalties
• $375,000 in Supplemental Environmental Compliance Projects
• $200,000 in investigative costs

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office will receive more than $800,000 from the settlement, mostly to help prosecute environmental crime cases.

Participating agencies in the lawsuit include the District Attorneys of Los Angeles, Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura counties, as well as the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office. This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Daniel Wright of the Environmental Crimes Division.