-
Recent Posts
- Tariffs – Trump’s Next Economic Disaster Looming
- MINI Oxford Edition – Rerun for 2025
- Stellantis Unveils STLA AutoDrive
- Michigan Signs MOU With UAE
- Society of Automotive Analysts – New Board of Directors
- Honda and Oracle Red Bull F1 Machines to Run through Tokyo
- Toyota and Lexus Recalls for Bad Safety Belts
- GM Recalls Sierra 1500 Trucks for Grilles Flying Off
- Hyundai Motor America recalls 2025 IONIQ 5 EVs
- Volvo Car USA Recalls EX90s for Headlight Failures
- Trump Tax Cuts for Rich among other things Wildly Unpopular
- World Endurance Championship – New Ferrari 499P
- Toyota Develops New 3rd Gen Fuel Cell System
- J.D. Power – Three Year Old Vehicle Problems Up
- Penske Automotive Group Posts Record Q4 Revenue of $7.7B
Recent Comments
- US Auto Sales Forecast Trump Bump or Bumpy 25? | AutoInformed on Trump Presidency Effects on Auto Industry – All Bad?
- Lisa Jacobson on Fossil Fuel Phase Out or Cop Out at COP28?
- Stellantis on Carlos Tavares Out as Stellantis CEO
- NHTSA Fines Ford $165M for Flouting Recall Law | AutoInformed on Ford Recalls Defective Rear-view Cameras on 620,246 Vehicles
- Alfa Romeo Returns to Formula 1 in 2018 via Sauber on Alfa Romeo Returns to Formula 1 in 2018 via Sauber
Archives
Meta
Tag Archives: epa
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
Leave a comment
Toyota’s Hino Motors Emissions Fraud – $1.6B Plea Deal
The U.S. Justice Department, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), FBI, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and State of California reached criminal and multiple civil resolutions, valued at more than $1.6 billion, with Hino Motors Ltd., Hino Motors Manufacturing U.S.A., Inc. and Hino Motors Sales U.S.A., Inc. (collectively, Hino) for violations related to the submission of false and fraudulent engine emission testing and fuel consumption data to regulators and the illicit smuggling of engines into the United States. These resolutions are subject to approval by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
“Hino knew the requirements that engines must meet to be certified to operate in the United States, yet it falsified data for years to skirt regulations,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) yesterday. “Hino’s actions led to vast amounts of excess air pollution and were an egregious violation of our nation’s environmental, consumer protection and import laws.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, car sharing, engineering, environment, fools 'n frauds, global warming, litigation, milestones, news analysis, public health, transportation
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, California Department of Justice, carb, department of justice, epa, fbi, Hino Motors Ltd., Hino Motors Manufacturing U.S.A., Hino Motors Sales U.S.A., Justice Department case 198-01902, Ken Zino, Toyota subsidiary Hino Motors, X @KenAutoinformed
Leave a comment
Lima Refining Settles Clean Air Act Violations in Ohio
The Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency today announced a settlement with the Lima Refining Company (LRC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canadian-based Cenovus Energy, to address violations of the Clean Air Act at its refinery in Lima, Ohio. LRC must pay a civil penalty of $19 million and implement ~$150 million in capital investments, including control technology expected to reduce emissions of benzene by an estimated 4.34 tons per year, other hazardous air pollutants (HAP) by 16.26 tons per year, and other volatile organic compound emissions (VOC) by 219 tons per year.
“This settlement is part of an ongoing initiative to curtail illegal benzene and VOC emissions at refineries that have failed to allocate the necessary personnel and capital investments to ensure compliance with rules they have long been subject to,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Under the settlement, the refinery will implement controls that will greatly improve air quality and reduce health impacts on the overburdened community that surrounds the refinery.” Continue reading
Posted in news analysis
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, benzene and VOC emissions at refineries, Cenovus Energy, epa, justice department, Ken Zino, Lima Refining Company, Rebecca C. Lutzko, Todd Kim, toxic pollutants, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, X @KenAutoinformed
Leave a comment
Global Warming – EPA Issues HFC Enforcement Alert
“After another summer of record-breaking heat, the urgency of the climate crisis continues to accelerate. The Biden-Harris administration is committed to meeting our goals to phase-down HFCs, which contribute dramatically to near-term climate change, so that our children and grandchildren can have a sustainable future,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann, of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.
“EPA and its law enforcement partners will police our borders and ports to halt HFC smuggling to protect our nation from the harmful effects of climate super pollutants,” said Ulmann.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, environment, global warming, litigation, news, news analysis, public health
Tagged AIM Act, American Innovation and Manufacturing Act, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, David M. Uhlmann, epa, hfcs, hydrofluorocarbons, Ken Zino, Montreal Protocol, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, X @KenAutoinformed
Leave a comment
EPA Grant to Holcim U.S. for Clean Cement
In the U.S., Holcim is the largest cement manufacturer and a top five producer of aggregates and ready-mix concrete, with approximately 7000 employees. Holcim’s so-called Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) Accelerator Project will increase the transparency of data on environmental emissions associated with the production of construction materials; generate robust EPDs with a diversity of manufacturers from across the U.S.; and drive market demand for lower carbon construction materials. These projects represent the three construction materials in Holcim’s portfolio: cement, asphalt, and ultra-high-performance concrete. Continue reading
Posted in economy, environment, global warming, manufacturing, milestones, news analysis, public health
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Biden Administration, Clean Cement, ENERGY STAR Industrial program, epa, Federal Buy Clean Initiative, high-quality environmental product declarations EPDs, Holcim U.S., Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, Janet McCabe, Ken Zino, Meg McCollister
Leave a comment
EPA Grants Emergency Fuel Waiver for Ethanol
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today issued an emergency fuel waiver to allow E15 gasoline – gasoline blended with 15% ethanol – to be sold during the summer driving season. This allows Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nine Tribal Nations to sell the fuel that otherwise would be banned for the summer. Estimates show that on average, E15 is about $0.25 a gallon cheaper than E10. Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, economy, energy, environment, fools 'n frauds, news analysis, people
Tagged auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Bidenomics, clean air act, department of energy, epa, Fuel Waiver for E-15 Sales, Ken Zino, Michael S. Regan, President George H. W. Bush, reid vapor pressure
Leave a comment
EPA Finalizes Vehicle Pollution Standards for 2027-32
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced final national pollution standards for passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty vehicles for model years 2027 through 2032 and beyond. The standards will have significant effects on the types of vehicles available, how much they cost to buy, own and operate, as well as the economy and public health in a politically dysfunctional country. Let the lawsuits commence, particularly from anti-environmentalists, the Republican party, and fossil fuel funded groups.
“With transportation as the largest source of U.S. climate emissions, these strongest-ever pollution standards for cars solidify America’s leadership in building a clean transportation future and creating good-paying American jobs, all while advancing President Biden’s historic climate agenda,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “The standards will slash over 7 billion tons of climate pollution, improve air quality in overburdened communities, and give drivers more clean vehicle choices while saving them money. Under President Biden’s leadership, this Administration is pairing strong standards with historic investments to revitalize domestic manufacturing, strengthen domestic supply chains and create good-paying jobs.” Continue reading
Posted in auto news, economy, energy, engineering, environment, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, litigation, manufacturing, milestones, mobility company, news analysis, public health, transportation
Tagged Alliance for Automotive Innovation, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Biden-Harris Administration, cafe, epa, greenhouse gas emissions, greenhouse gas standards, Inflation Reduction Act, John Bozzella, Ken Zino, uaw
1 Comment
Petroleum Equivalency Factor Change Slows EV Adoption
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final greenhouse gas and criteria pollutant rules for light-duty vehicles covering model years 2027-2032 is about to be to be announced. It’s part of a tangled maze of regulations from multiple federal and state agencies affecting automakers and ultimately consumers in the US, often referred in shorthand as CAFE – corporate average fuel economy.
In the latest development, The Department of Energy last year proposed decreasing the so-called “petroleum-equivalent fuel economy factor” (PEF) for EVs by 72% in 2027. The Petroleum Equivalency Factor expresses electric vehicle efficiency as equivalent-miles-per-gallon of gasoline for purposes of the EPA’s calculation of manufacturers’ compliance with NHTSA’s CAFE regulations. DOE is responsible for establishing the value of the PEF. With a final rule, issued yesterday, the PEF will be established for model years beginning in 2027. It slows forcing EV adaption, and in AutoInformed’s view this is a good thing. Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, AutoInformed Editorial, blog, economy, electric vehicles, energy, engineering, environment, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, labor issues, manufacturing, milestones, news analysis, public health
Tagged Alliance for Automotive Innovation, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, battery electric vehicles, cafe, CAFE civil penalties, Corporate Average Fuel Economy, department of energy, epa, John Bozzella, Ken Zino, petroleum-equivalent fuel economy factor
Leave a comment
The Corrupting Influence of Money on US Public Health
“Heavy Vehicle emissions standards recently proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would boost the electrification of trucks and buses, but standards stronger than what EPA proposed are needed to de-carbonize transportation at a pace to prevent catastrophic climate change. While leading utilities are showing that they can help build out the infrastructure at the scale necessary to support the proposed standards, they and their customers will need to invest far more ambitiously to support more robust standards.,” claims Daivie Ghosh, Transportation Senior Research Analyst at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. Continue reading
Posted in blog, environment, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, news analysis, public health, transportation
Tagged ACEEE, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Atlas Public Policy, auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Automotive news and analysis, Daivie Ghosh, Edison Electric Institute, Environmental Defense Fund, epa, Ken Zino
Leave a comment
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
EPA Launches More Climate Pollution Reduction Grants
The two new competitions are part of the second round of funding from EPA’s $5 billion Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program, which was created by President Biden’s bi-partisan Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate investment in history. EPA is announcing the availability of $4.6 billion across two implementation grant competitions, one general competition and one specifically for Tribes and territories. Under these competitions, eligible applicants will compete for CPRG implementation grants to fund measures in their state-, municipality-, Tribe-, or territory-specific climate action plans. As part of its evaluation of applications, EPA will prioritize measures that achieve the greatest amount of GHG emissions reductions. Continue reading
Posted in economy, electric vehicles, environment, fuel economy or emissions, global warming, public health
Tagged @KenAutoinformed, Adam Ortiz, autoinformed.com, Automotive News and Commentary, Biden-Harris Administration, Climate Pollution Reduction Grants, Climate Week 2023, epa, Inflation Reduction Act, IRA, Ken Zino
Leave a comment
EPA Offers Grants to Cut Oil and Gas Well Methane Emissions
“Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we now have unprecedented funding to cut methane pollution that is fueling the climate crisis,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “This investment will increase competition and help small and medium-sized producers compete on a more level playing field, create new good-paying jobs in energy communities, and support environmental restoration, making clear that strengthening our economy, tackling climate change, and protecting our communities go hand in hand,” Regan claimed. Continue reading
EPA Reviewing Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards
Exposure to ground-level ozone can cause respiratory issues, aggravate asthma and other lung diseases, and may lead to missed days of work or school, emergency room visits, and premature deaths. These costly public health impacts can be especially harmful to children and older adults, disproportionately affecting people of color, families with low-incomes, and other vulnerable populations. Continue reading
EPA Celebrates Inflation Reduction Act Anniversary
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today is marking what it says is one year of progress implementing President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the most ambitious climate law in U.S. history and a core pillar of Bidenomics and the President’s Investing in America Agenda. Since the legislation was signed into law, EPA has put an historic $41 billion to work to reduce emissions, build a clean economy, lower energy costs for American households and businesses, create good-paying union jobs, and advance environmental justice across the country. Continue reading
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 →