<font color=blue>On October 22, 1998, the Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency announced an $83. 4 million total penalty against diesel manufacturers, the largest civil penalty ever for violation of environmental law. Under this settlement, seven major manufacturers of diesel engines will spend more than one billion dollars to resolve claims that they installed computer devices in heavy duty diesel engines which resulted in illegal amounts of air pollution emissions. This settlement will prevent 75 million tons of harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions nationwide by the year 2025. The companies involved are Caterpillar, Inc. , Cummins Engine Company, Detroit Diesel Corporation, Mack Trucks, Inc. , Navistar International Transportation Corporation, Renault Vehicules Industriels, s. a. , and Volvo Truck Corporation.
Alleged Violations: The seven companies sold 1. 3 million heavy duty diesel engines containing illegal "defeat devices," which allow an engine to pass the EPA emissions test, but then turn off emission controls during highway driving. As a result, these engines emit up to three times the current level for NOx a harmful air pollutant.
Public Health and Environmental Effects: NOx creates smog and soot, and contributes to acid rain and other forms of air pollution. Adverse health effects caused by NOx include premature mortalities, reduced lung function, and aggravated existing respiratory problems such as bronchitis and asthma. Environmental impacts include the deterioration of coastal waters and estuaries (such as the Chesapeake Bay), global warming and stratospheric ozone depletion. These heavy duty diesel engines emitted 1. 3 million tons of excess NOx in 1998 alone, equivalent to the NOx emissions from an additional 65 million cars being on the road, and representing 6% of total NOx emissions across the nation.
Total Settlement:
$83. 4 million in civil penalties, the largest civil penalty ever for an environmental violation;
At least $850 million to produce significantly cleaner engines, including engines that have their emissions cut in half by January, 1999 and that by October 1, 2002 will have emissions reduced by 80% compared to current levels 15 months before those standards are scheduled to take effect;
$109. 5 million for additional environmental projects like development of new emission-control technologies;
Violations and Settlements for Individual Companies:
Caterpillar Inc. produced 320,000 engines containing defeat devices since 1988. These engines resulted in excess NOx emissions of 2. 1 million tons. The company will pay a civil penalty of $25 million, and will conduct environmental projects costing $35 million;
Cummins Engine Company produced 400,000 engines containing defeat devices since 1991. These engines resulted in excess NOx emissions of 3. 6 million tons. The company will pay a civil penalty of $25 million, and will conduct environmental projects costing $35 million;
Detroit Diesel Corporation produced 430,000 engines containing defeat devices since 1988. These engines resulted in excess NOx emissions of 9. 0 million tons of NOx. The company will pay a civil penalty of $12. 5 million, and will conduct environmental projects costing $12 million;
Mack Trucks, Inc. and its business partner, Renault Vehicules Industriels, s. a. , produced 90,000 engines containing defeat devices since 1990. These engines resulted in excess NOx emissions of 860,000 tons. The company will pay a civil penalty of $13 million, and will conduct environmental projects costing $18 million;
Navistar International Transportation Company produced 78,000 engines containing defeat devices since 1994. These engines resulted in excess NOx emissions of 40,000 tons. The company will pay a civil penalty of $2. 9 million;
Volvo Truck Corporation produced 10,000 engines containing defeat devices since 1994. These engines resulted in excess NOx emissions of 148,000 tons. The company will pay a civil penalty of $5 million, and will conduct environmental projects costing $9 million.
This is where I got this information :
Fines for CAT, Cummins, Detroit, Navistar, Mack, and Volvo
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- Eric D. Howard -
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[This message has been edited by KatDiesel (edited 07-23-2000). ]
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