EPA Fines Automobile Fix Outlets in Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska for ‘Defeat Device’ Violations

EPA Fines Automobile Fix Outlets in Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska for ‘Defeat Device’ Violations

LENEXA, KAN. (AUG. 30, 2022) – The U.S. Environmental Safety Company (EPA) has penalized three companies to take care of alleged violations of the federal Clean Air Act (CAA). According to EPA, the businesses set up and/or bought unlawful “defeat devices” in vehicle engines designed to render emissions controls inoperative.

Central Iowa Truck Mend LLC of Boone, Iowa, will fork out a civil penalty of $95,371 R.T.R. Roger’s Truck Maintenance LLC of Fenton, Missouri, will pay back $46,316 and Husker Diesel Inc. of Gretna, Nebraska, will pay back $60,150.

“Modifying car emissions controls is unlawful, contributes drastically to hazardous air pollution, and tends to make it more challenging to meet air quality criteria,” claimed David Cozad, director of EPA Location 7’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. “These unlawful techniques exacerbate the outcomes of pollution in previously overburdened communities.”

As part of their settlements with EPA, all 3 corporations agreed to demolish their inventories of defeat machine components and accredited that they stopped selling or setting up units that disable car emission controls.

R.T.R. Roger’s Truck Restore and Husker Diesel are in communities that are currently disproportionately influenced by air pollution. Also, R.T.R. Roger’s Truck Fix is in St. Louis County, which is an ozone non-attainment location, meaning that it does not satisfy the CAA national ambient air good quality typical for ozone.

Tampering with automobile engines, together with installation of aftermarket defeat products meant to bypass maker emissions controls, outcomes in drastically larger releases of nitrogen oxides and particulate make any difference, each of which lead to really serious community overall health complications in the United States. These issues incorporate premature mortality, aggravation of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, aggravation of existing bronchial asthma, acute respiratory signs or symptoms, continual bronchitis, and decreased lung operate. Several studies also backlink diesel exhaust to elevated incidence of lung most cancers.

Halting aftermarket defeat devices for motor vehicles and engines can assistance shield susceptible communities and reduce ozone-forming pollutant emissions. EPA recognized this as a single of 6 Nationwide Compliance Initiatives introduced in 2019 and is a best precedence for the Company.

Master far more about the EPA’s National Compliance Initiatives.

# # # 

Study more about EPA Area 7

Check out all Region 7 information releases

Link with EPA Region 7 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion7

Adhere to us on Twitter: @EPARegion7