The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan granted default judgment against two Waterford companies.
The companies in question are Diesel Ops LLC and Orion Diesel LLC – both were ordered to pay the proposed civil penalty of $10 million. The United States, through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), identified in 2021 that these companies violated the Clean Air Act by manufacturing, selling, and installing replacement parts called “defeat devices.” These devices are designed to disable or bypass required vehicle emissions. controls.
Both companies are owned by Nicholas Piccolo, who was also fined $455,925 for failing to respond to a request for information issued under Section 208 of the Clean Air Act. Piccolo also received a judgment of just under $1 million for alleged fraudulent transfers in violation of federal debt collection procedures law.
Future sales of defeat devices by defendants also received a permanent injunction.
“The neutralization devices violate Clean Air Act emissions requirements that protect public health and the environment, including protecting vulnerable communities who are disproportionately impacted by air pollution,” he said. said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “The United States will vigorously enforce the Clean Air Act, including its ban on illegal devices that circumvent emissions controls and harm the environment and public health.”
“This action sends a strong message that the sale and installation of defeat devices on vehicles and engines will not be tolerated,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore. “Vehicle emission control systems are designed to protect public health by reducing pollution, which is why the EPA is committed to ensuring companies comply with the Clean Air Act.”
Override devices were discovered in Volkswagen vehicles in 2015 by the EPA, exposing the biggest emissions scandal in history. This has seen multiple corporate moves within the VW Group, as well as the launch of a nationwide EPA crackdown on such devices.
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan granted default judgment against two Waterford companies.
The companies in question are Diesel Ops LLC and Orion Diesel LLC – both were ordered to pay the proposed civil penalty of $10 million. The United States, through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), identified in 2021 that these companies violated the Clean Air Act by manufacturing, selling, and installing replacement parts called “defeat devices.” These devices are designed to disable or bypass required vehicle emissions. controls.
Both companies are owned by Nicholas Piccolo, who was also fined $455,925 for failing to respond to a request for information issued under Section 208 of the Clean Air Act. Piccolo also received a judgment of just under $1 million for alleged fraudulent transfers in violation of federal debt collection procedures law.
Future sales of defeat devices by defendants also received a permanent injunction.
“The neutralization devices violate Clean Air Act emissions requirements that protect public health and the environment, including protecting vulnerable communities who are disproportionately impacted by air pollution,” he said. said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “The United States will vigorously enforce the Clean Air Act, including its ban on illegal devices that circumvent emissions controls and harm the environment and public health.”
“This action sends a strong message that the sale and installation of defeat devices on vehicles and engines will not be tolerated,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore. “Vehicle emission control systems are designed to protect public health by reducing pollution, which is why the EPA is committed to ensuring companies comply with the Clean Air Act.”
Override devices were discovered in Volkswagen vehicles in 2015 by the EPA, exposing the biggest emissions scandal in history. This has seen multiple corporate moves within the VW Group, as well as the launch of a nationwide EPA crackdown on such devices.