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CAA Enforcement Environmental Results
The Clean Air Act (CAA) applies to both stationary sources of air pollution (such as factories, processing plants, chemical plants, refineries, and utilities) and mobile sources (such as vehicles, tractors, lawn mowers, airplanes as well as rules governing formulation and use of fuel). EPA's Clean Air Act Enforcement Program has resulted in the reduction or prevention of emission of millions of tons of Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Hydrocarbons (HC), and particulate matter. NOx and HC combine in the atmosphere to form harmful Ozone. CO causes headaches and breathing problems.
Stationary Source Enforcement Environmental Results
Power Plants
177,000 tons per year in combined NOx and SO2 reductions from cases in which the companies have settled, plus an additional 591,000 tons per year in combined NOx and SO2 reductions from companies that have reached and publicly announced an agreement in principle with the government. $ 52.4 million spent for environmental mitigation projects for cases settled or that have publicly announced agreements in principle. Mitigation projects include demand reduction projects, solar and wind power projects, CO2 and mercury reductions not required by law, and environmental health centers established in affected communities
About 230,000 Acid Rain Program emission allowances retired per year from cases settled or that have publicly announced agreements in principle; $ 4.35 billion to be spent to come into compliance by using state of the art emission controls (injunctive relief) for cases settled or that have agreements in principle. (Additional Information)
Refineries
152,000 tons per year in NOx and SO2 reductions from cases settled or that have an agreement in principle; $19.5 million spent for environmental mitigation projects for cases settled or that have agreements in principle. Mitigation projects include early warning systems for possible accidental releases in affected communities, funding enhanced air monitoring networks and voluntarily installing low emissions equipment; $ 1.515 billion to be spent to come into compliance by using state of the art emission controls (injunctive relief) for cases settled or that have agreements in principle.(Additional Information)
Other Cases
6,575 tons per year in NOx, SO2, and other criteria pollutant emission reductions from settlements of cases addressing the wood products and iron and steel (mini-mill) industries in the past two years; $12 million spent for environmental mitigation projects for settled cases within the last two years. Mitigation projects include enhanced air pollutant monitoring systems, wind power generation, creation of wetland "buffer zones" and community-based environmental projects. In addition, $159 million to be spent to come into compliance by using state of the art emissions controls (injunctive relief) for settled cases within the last two years. (Additional Information)
Mobile Source Enforcement Environmental Results
Diesel Engine Settlements
On October 22, 1998, the Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency announced an $83.4 million total penalty against diesel manufacturers, the largest civil penalty ever for violation of environmental law. Under this settlement, seven major manufacturers of diesel engines will spend more than one billion dollars to resolve claims that they installed computer devices in heavy duty diesel engines which resulted in illegal amounts of air pollution emissions. This settlement will prevent 75 million tons of harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions nationwide by the year 2025. The companies involved are Caterpillar, Inc., Cummins Engine Company, Detroit Diesel Corporation, Mack Trucks,Inc., Navistar International Transportation Corporation, Renault Vehicules Industriels, s.a., and Volvo Truck Corporation.
Alleged Violations: The seven companies sold 1.3 million heavy duty diesel engines containing illegal "defeat devices", which allow an engine to pass the EPA emissions test, but then turn off emission controls during highway driving. As a result, these engines emit up to three times the current level for NOx a harmful air pollutant. (Additional Information)
The Goal -- Clean Air