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EPA Steps up Emissions Enforcement

May 1, 2020 (WASHINGTON, DC) – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 announced a series of enforcement actions targeting businesses and individuals that provided over 21,000 aftermarket modifications to diesel vehicles, totaling $11 million in penalties. 

“EPA’s announcement underscores the importance of diesel emissions system integrity of both on-road and off-road vehicles. Manufacturers have invested billions of dollars to produce vehicles that comply with Clean Air Act requirements while also delivering optimum customer performance and fuel economy,” said Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum. The Forum is an educational industry association representing leading manufacturers and suppliers of diesel engines, vehicles, components and equipment, petroleum and renewable fuels and emissions control technology. 

“These innovations in engine, fuels and emissions control technology are built around an integrated systems approach and have led to today’s generation of clean diesel technology that achieves near zero emissions. When these systems are tampered with or altered, fuel consumption and emissions performance are negatively impacted, resulting in higher emissions over a range of operating conditions ,” noted Schaeffer. 

“EPA identified numerous companies and individuals who manufactured and sold both hardware and software specifically designed to defeat required emissions controls on vehicles and engines used on public roads as well as on non-road vehicles and engines. This includes software modifications to engine computer controls such as ‘chipping’ as well as practices that remove or bypass integral emissions control devices such as oxidation catalysts, particulate filters and selective catalytic reduction systems.

“Any perceived performance benefits from these illegal practices are more than offset by higher fuel consumption, greater engine wear and major component failure as well as voiding manufacturer warranties, negatively impacting vehicle resale, and creating unsafe conditions for vehicle owners and other motorists or pedestrians.” 

Cummins ISX X15