Pep Boys hit with $5M Clean Air Act fine for selling non-compliant Chinese ATVs

[wtmusic]

Pep Boys Agrees to Pay $5 Million to Resolve Clean Air Act Violations Claims

WASHINGTON — The Pep Boys – Manny, Moe & Jack - have agreed to pay $5 million in civil penalties and take corrective measures to settle claims that it violated the Clean Air Act by importing and selling motorcycles, recreational vehicles and generators manufactured in China that do not comply with environmental requirements, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Justice Department announced today. Baja Inc., which supplied the non-compliant vehicles to Pep Boys, is also settling with the U.S.

"Importers of foreign made vehicles and engines must comply with the same Clean Air Act requirements that apply to those selling domestic products, and this settlement demonstrates that we will take strong action to ensure that importers comply with their obligations," said Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division. "Under this settlement Pep Boys and Baja will not only pay a civil penalty, but will offset the excess emissions from the vehicles and engines already sold and take steps that go beyond what the law requires to ensure that their future imports and sales meet Clean Air Act standards."

"Equipment imported into the United States that does not meet our pollution control rules is bad for human health and the environment, and unfair to those companies that play by the rules," said Cynthia Giles, Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "American consumers deserve products that meet standards and protect their health and environment."

http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2010/May/10-enrd-546.html

Seems the agency dubbed under Dubya the "Environmental Suggestion Agency" has regained some of its former clout

[matt819]

1. Maybe, but what were their profits on the sales of these ATVs? (nt)

[madokie]

2. Yep we got a new sheriff

things will be handled differently now. I'm sure the Chinese made generator sets my brother and a couple of my friends have bought the last couple extended power outages we've had are in that bunch of uncompliant ones too.

Mine is an American made Lincoln welder/generator that is 15 years old now and still meets requirements I'd bet. I paid a little more for it but I still use it today 15 years after the purchase.

[AtheistCrusader]

3. What the hell

How did this crap even get in through customs? It was caught at point of sale? HUH?

Starting to wonder about the Champion generator I got... This things are CHEAP, which makes me reeeally wonder..