EPA Cracks Down on Nashville-Based Seller of Automobile Emissions ‘Defeat Devices’ that Increase Air Pollution

EPA Cracks Down on Nashville-Based Seller of Automobile Emissions 'Defeat Devices' that Increase Air Pollution

December 9, 2024

EPA Cracks Down on Nashville-Based Seller of Automobile Emissions 'Defeat Devices' that Increase Air Pollution

Contact: EPA Region 4 Press Office - (404) 562-8400, [email protected]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (December 9, 2024) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has fined an automotive aftermarket parts distributor based in Nashville, Tennessee, for allegedly selling illegal "defeat devices" designed to render automobile emission controls inoperative, in violation of the federal Clean Air Act.

Diesel Performance Parts, Inc. (DPPI), has agreed to pay $320,000 in civil penalties to settle the claims brought by the EPA. Since September 2018, DPPI sold at least 6,858 aftermarket defeat devices that bypassed, defeated or rendered inoperative emissions control systems that were installed in motor vehicles or in motor vehicle engines in compliance with the CAA for motor vehicles equipped with diesel engines.

"Defeat devices significantly increase air pollution from motor vehicles, and EPA will use all of its enforcement tools to hold sellers of defeat devices like DPPI accountable until these illegal practices stop," said acting Regional Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle. "These illegal practices contribute to harmful air pollution and impede federal, state, and local efforts to implement air quality standards that protect public health. Emissions from mobile sources play an important role in EPA's Southeastern region, and the use of these defeat devices hampers our ability to maintain compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards."

As part of the settlement, DPPI agreed to certify that they have stopped selling devices that disable vehicle emission controls and removed from their webpages and social media accounts all marketing material, including advertisements, photos, videos, and information that relates to performing tampering and/or selling, offering to sell, and/or installing defeat devices. DPPI must also send notices to dealers and customers notifying them about the settlement and the illegal products.

EPA requires emission controls on vehicles to reduce the amount of air pollutants emitted and their harmful effects, but aftermarket defeat devices negate those controls. One EPA study found that known sales of defeat devices for certain diesel trucks between 2009 and 2020 resulted in more than 570,000 tons of excess nitrogen oxides (NOx) and 5,000 tons of excess particulate matter (PM) over the lifetime of the trucks. These problems include premature mortality, aggravation of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, aggravation of existing asthma, acute respiratory symptoms, chronic bronchitis, and decreased lung function. Numerous studies also link diesel exhaust to increased incidence of lung cancer.

Learn more: EPA's efforts to stop the sale of illegal defeat devices

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