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Tag Archives: doj
HF Sinclair Plea Deal – Climate- and Health-Harming Emissions
The Justice Department, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) announced today a proposed settlement with HF Sinclair Navajo Refining LLC, an HF Sinclair Corp. subsidiary, resolving alleged Clean Air Act and New Mexico Air Quality Control Act violations at the company’s oil refinery in Artesia, New Mexico. The refinery is adjacent to a community overburdened by pollution. This settlement is part of the Justice Department and EPA’s ongoing commitment to address unlawful pollution in historically marginalized and dis-proportionally impacted communities.
“This settlement reinforces the United States’ commitment to protect communities from illegal refinery benzene and VOC emissions,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Katherine E. Konschnik of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “Under the settlement, the refinery will make significant capital investments in pollution controls and implement additional programs to improve air quality and reduce health impacts on the residents of Artesia, including the students at Roselawn Elementary School.” Continue reading
Posted in environment, global warming, litigation, news, news analysis, public health
Tagged Artesia New Mexico, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, clean air act, doj, epa, hazardous air pollutants, HF Sinclair Corp, HF Sinclair Navajo Refining, Katherine E. Konschnik, Ken Zino, New Mexico Air Quality Control Act, nitrous oxides, sulfur dioxide, volatile organic compounds, X @KenAutoinformed
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Norfolk Southern Settles East Palestine Derailment with EPA
“No community should have to experience the trauma inflicted upon the residents of East Palestine,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “That’s why President Biden pledged from the beginning that his Administration would stand with the community every step of the way. Today’s enforcement action delivers on this commitment, ensures the cleanup is paid for by the company, and helps prevent another disaster like this from happening again. Because of this settlement, residents and first responders will have greater access to health services, trains will be safer, and waterways will be cleaner,” Regan said. Continue reading
Posted in environment, litigation, news, transportation
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, doj, Environmental Protection Agency, Ken Zino, Michael S. Regan, Norfolk Southern East Palestine Train Derailment, unlawful discharges of pollutants and hazardous substances, US Justice Department
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Cleveland-Cliffs Steel To Pay $100M for Dearborn Emissions
The modification today of the consent decree requires replacement of the plant’s electrostatic precipitator (ESP) that removes particulate matter from exhaust gases that stem from the plant’s operations and thereby controls visible emissions. It also requires routine testing of the new ESP to assure compliance with applicable emission limits, certain operational parameters and regular monitoring for visible emissions. Continue reading
GE Engineer Sentenced for Economic Espionage Conspiracy
“This is a case of textbook economic espionage. Zheng exploited his position of trust, betrayed his employer and conspired with the government of China to steal innovative American technology,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department will hold accountable those who threaten our national security by conniving to steal valuable trade secrets on behalf of a foreign power.” Continue reading
Chinese Government Intelligence Officer Sentenced to Prison
Yanjun Xu, 42, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. According to court documents, Xu targeted American aviation companies, recruited employees to travel to China, and solicited their proprietary information, all on behalf of the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The Justice Department and the FBI of course are involved in other grave national security matters that if indictments come won’t require extradition of the alleged offender and co-conspirators from Mir-a-Lago. Continue reading
Russian Oligarch Oleg Vladimirovich Deripaska Indicted
It’s just another example of how treacherous the waters of global trade are for multinational corporations with implications for automobile businesses that operate under totalitarian governments. Continue reading
Posted in economy, litigation, mobility company, people
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, doj, fbi, Ken Zino, Merrick Garland, Ukraine Russian sanctions
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Punch It Performance and Tuning to Stop Selling Illegal Devices to Defeat Emissions Controls
“EPA will vigorously pursue and prosecute companies who attempt to circumvent emission controls that are required to reduce air pollution,” said EPA. Continue reading
US v Fiat Chrysler on Diesel Emissions Defeat Devices
The complaint alleges that the undisclosed software functions cause the vehicles’ emission control systems to perform differently, and less effectively, during certain normal driving conditions than on federal emission tests, resulting in increased emissions of harmful air pollutants. In other words, Volkswagen – the American-Italian sequel. Continue reading
Dieselgate: Volkswagen Cuts Deal with FTC and Plaintiffs
Volkswagen has agreed to pay up to approximately $1.2 billion in benefits for the 3-liter plea bargain, assuming 100% participation in the program, a 100% buyback of all eligible so-called Generation 1 vehicles and availability of an Emissions Compliant Repair for Generation 2 vehicles. Continue reading
Posted in fuel economy or emissions, litigation
Tagged 3-l TDI V6 engines, autoinformed, autoinformed.com, carb, dieselgate, doj, EPAS, Ken Zino, Volkswagen TDI
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Takata Pleads Guilty of Falsifying Data on Airbag Shrapnel
Takata has reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice – DOJ – whereby it will plead guilty for falsifying airbag testing data and reports that were provided to automakers. Continue reading
Posted in litigation, safety
Tagged autoinformed, autoinformed.com, deadly airbags, doj, Ken Zino, Takata airbag shrapnel, Takata Criminal Charges
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Former Federal Prosecutor to Oversee GM Felony Plea Bargain on Ignition Switch Deaths that let Senior Executives Walk
GM is charged with two felonies for concealing a potentially deadly safety defect from its U.S. regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, aka NHTSA, from the spring of 2012 through February 2014, and misleading consumers concerning the safety GM’s cars. Continue reading
Posted in litigation, safety
Tagged autoinformed, autoinformed.com, doj, gm ignition switch felonies, Ken Zino
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DOJ Honda Consent Order Aims to Cut Auto Loan Abuses
The consent decree is a substantial, perhaps fatal, setback for dealer lobbying groups such as NADA and AIADA who have been fighting CFPB on non-discriminatory pricing. Continue reading
Hyundai, Kia Fined Record Amount for Fuel Economy Cheating
The Korean scofflaws Hyundai and Kia will pay a record $100 million penalty for selling vehicles that emit more greenhouse gases because of false fuel economy ratings. Continue reading
Posted in environment, fools 'n frauds, litigation
Tagged autoinformed, autoinformed.com, doj, dot, epa, Ken Zino
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Ex Takata Exec Indicted for Seatbelt Price Fixing
Including Nakajima, 35 individuals have been charged in the government’s ongoing investigation into price fixing and bid rigging in the auto parts industry, 24 of whom have pleaded guilty or agreed to plead guilty. Of those, 22 have been sentenced to serve prison terms ranging from a year and one day to two years. Additionally, 27 companies have pleaded guilty or agreed to plead guilty and have agreed to pay a total of more than $2.3 billion in fines. Continue reading
Posted in fools 'n frauds, litigation
Tagged autoinformed, autoinformed.com, doj, Gikou Nakajima, Ken Zino
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Illegal Chinese Diesel Engines – Fayat Group Fined
The Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have announced a settlement agreement with Fayat S.A.S. and nine of its subsidiaries – BOMAG GmbH, Bomag Americas Inc., BOMAG (China) Construction Machinery Co. Ltd., MARINI S.p.A., RAVO B.V., Charlatte of America Inc., PTC S.A.S., Secmair S.A.S. and MATHIEU S.A. – for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act’s mobile source emission standards regulations.
“Fayat failed to ensure that the equipment it introduced into the United States market complied with Clean Air Act requirements designed to protect the public’s health from harmful emissions,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “We will not tolerate violations of Clean Air Act standards. The settlement requires both a substantial civil penalty and a project that will reduce emissions in the Mobile, Alabama, area and contribute to improved public health.” Continue reading →