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Chinese Manufacturer to Pay $680,000 Penalty to Resolve Violations of the Clean Air Act / Settlement also requires a project to mitigate emissions from more than 7,000 non-compliant recreational vehicles

Release Date: 01/11/2012
Contact Information: Stacy Kika (News Media Only), [email protected], 202-564-0906, 202-564-4355

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement with recreational vehicle manufacturers, Loncin (USA), Inc., Longting USA LLC, and Chongqing Longting Power Equipment Co., Ltd., to resolve violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA) related to the importation of 7,115 uncertified recreational vehicles into the United States. Engines that are not certified may be operating without proper emissions controls, which can emit excess carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides and cause respiratory illnesses, aggravate asthma and contribute to the formation of ground level ozone, or smog.

“EPA is committed to enforcing vehicle emission standards under the Clean Air Act,” said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “By taking action to deter the importation and sale of non-compliant engines, EPA is ensuring a level playing field for manufacturers and protecting Americans from illegal air emissions.”

EPA alleges that Loncin (USA), Inc. and Longting USA LLC held certificates of conformity that were voided by EPA following an investigation of MotorScience, Inc., a California-based certification services consulting firm that allegedly used false or incomplete information to certify vehicles under the Clean Air Act for four of its clients, including Loncin. The certificates allowed the importation and sale of more than 24,000 recreational vehicles in the U.S. that did not meet Clean Air Act standards. More than 7,000 of these vehicles were manufactured by Chongqing Longting Power Equipment Co., Ltd. and imported by companies such as The Pep Boys – Manny, Moe & Jack, Baja, Inc., and BMS Motorsports, Inc.

The Clean Air Act prohibits any vehicle or engine from being imported and sold in the United States unless it is covered by a valid, EPA-issued certificate of conformity indicating that the vehicle or engine meets applicable federal emission standards. The certificate of conformity is the primary way EPA ensures that imported vehicles and engines meet emission standards. This enforcement action is part of an ongoing effort by EPA to ensure that all imported vehicles and equipment comply with the Clean Air Act’s requirements.

Loncin (USA), Inc. and its affiliates have cooperated with EPA in this settlement.

More information on the settlement: https://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/civil/caa/loncin.html

More information about this enforcement action: EPA Voids Certificates Approving Import of Up to 200,000 Small Recreational Vehicles /Agency may levy penalties https://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/6424ac1caa800aab85257359003f5337/536947c975312e39852577520063c927!OpenDocument