Tag Archives: epa

EPA Proposes New Rule Limiting Toluene Diisocyanates

EPA today proposed a new rule limiting Toluene Diisocyanates, TDI, widely used in auto manufacturing. These chemicals are in use in residual amounts in the production of polyurethanes and consumer products, such as coatings, elastomers, adhesives, and sealants. Continue reading

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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

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Shanghai Yancui Import ships Hazardous Materials into US

At least it was not Ebola. Nonetheless, workers at a DHL sorting facility in Erlanger, Kentucky discovered the bottle emitting smoke. Why it took the FAA this long to act is also an indictment of the continuing failure of federal agencies to do their job. To be fair and un-Fox-like it appears that the FAA has a scarce amount of attorneys working on a high volume of cases caused by corporate scofflaws, so it takes time to act. Continue reading

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EPA Says US Fuel Economy at All Time High – 24.1 MPG

New vehicles achieved record fuel economy in 2013, the Environmental Protection Agency announced today. Model year 2013 vehicles achieved an average of 24.1 miles per gallon, a 0.5 mpg increase compared with 2012 previous year and an increase of nearly 5 mpg since 2004. However, year-over-year it was only 2%. Continue reading

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DuPont Settles EPA Violations for Tree Damage and Deaths

EPA announced a settlement with the E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company – a large auto industry supplier – for violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. Continue reading

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2015 Chevy, GMC Pickups and SUV derivatives Have 8-Speed Transmissions in Fuel Economy Upgrade

In theory, fuel economy should improve on the EPA sticker, but estimates will be announced closer to the start of production in Q4 of 2014. Continue reading

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Anti-Green Aviation Industry Finally Getting the Lead Out

The general aviation industry through trade groups, airplane and engine makers, as well as members of Congress who fly has fiercely resisted doing anything about this destructive and toxic use of lead in so-called 100 low lead fuel (100LL) going back to the last century. Continue reading

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EPA Proposes to Replace Harmful HFC Greenhouse Gases

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency – EPA- is proposing to ban the use of certain hydro-fluorocarbon chemicals that it claims significantly contribute to climate change. This is the agency’s second action aimed at reducing emissions of HFCs, a class of potent greenhouse gases. Continue reading

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EPA Forces Ford to Lower Fuel Economy Ratings

Given the ongoing fuel economy rating scandals, with Hyundai and Kia being an egregious example, as well as numerous road tests from independent sources on other make vehicles, including AutoInformed, we no longer have confidence in EPA fuel economy stickers. Buyers beware; mpg is in a lot of cases ‘meaningless per gallon. Continue reading

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Accord Hybrid Falls Short of its EPA Fuel Economy Rating

Honda Accord Hybrid posts 40-mpg Consumer Reports combined city and highway test , but the magazine warned prospective buyers EPA’s 47 mpg is fiction. Continue reading

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Republicans Pass Polluter Protection Act

This latest example of the power of money in the Congress is a setback for citizens. In 2009, EPA determined that greenhouse gas pollution threatens Americans’ health and welfare by leading to long lasting changes in our climate that can have a range of negative effects on human health and the environment. Continue reading

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Fuel Economy of New U.S. Vehicles at Record High

The large fuel economy improvement is part of longer-term trends. Fuel economy has increased by 2.6 mpg or 12% since 2008, and by 4.3 mpg or 22% since 2004. The average carbon dioxide emissions of 376 grams per mile in model year 2012 also was a record low. Continue reading

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EPA Wants Air Quality to Improve in Ports

Most of the country’s busiest ports are located near large metropolitan areas and, as a result, people in nearby communities can be exposed to high levels of diesel emissions. Continue reading

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Carbon Black Maker Cabot Corporation Fined by EPA

Boston-based Cabot Corporation, the second largest carbon black manufacturer in the United States, will pay a $975,000 civil penalty and spend an estimated $84 million on technology to control harmful air pollution, resolving alleged violations of the New Source Review (NSR) provisions of the Clean Air Act (CAA). Continue reading

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EPA Sets Strict Carbon Pollution Limits for New PowerPlants

The standards, which will be expensive to meet, will be fiercely opposed by big oil money in the courts and will continue a battle royal underway in the Congress between political factions in corrupt pay-to-play Washington and other special interest groups, notably coal companies. Continue reading

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