EPA v. GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION

Case summary

GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS ALLEGED TO HAVE INSTALLED DEVICES ON 500,000 CADILLACS BETWEEN THE 1991 AND 1995 MODEL YEARS THAT DEFEAT THE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM WHENEVER THE VEHICLE'S AIR CONDITIONER OR HEATER IS ACTIVATED IN VIOLATION OF THE CLEAN AIR ACT'S PROVISIONS GOVERNING MOTOR VEHICLE EMISSIONS THESE ILLEGAL DEFEAT DEVICES LED TO 100,000 TONS OF EXCESS CARBON MONOXIDE BEING EMITTED SINCE 1991. GM IS ALSO ALLEGED TO HAVE FAILED TO FULLY AND ACCURATELY REPORT THE USE OF CERTAIN REGULATED EMISSION CONTROL DEVICES TO EPA WITH RESPECT TO SEVERAL MODELS OF PASSENGER CARS AND HEAVY- DUTY ENGINES. A CONSENT DECREE RESOLVING THE VIOLATIONS WAS ENTERED INTO BY GM AND THE UNITED STATES ON NOVEMBER 30, 1995. THE DECREE REQUIRES GM TO RECALL AND FIX 500,000 CADILLACS WITH DEFEAT DEVICES ON THEM AND TO PAY $11 MILLION IN CIVIL PENALTIES, WHICH IS THE LARGEST MOBILE SOURCE PENAL TY, THE SECOND LARGEST CLEAN AIR ACT PENALTY, AND THE THIRD LARGEST CIVIL PENALTY RECOVERED UNDER ANY ENVIRONMENTAL STATUTE. IN ADDITION, GM IS REQUIRED TO SPEND AT LEAST $7.05 MILLION ON PROJECTS THAT REDUCE REGULATED AIR EMISSION S, SUCH AS PROVIDING ELECTRIC VEHICLES TO STATE AND MUNICI- PAL FLEETS TO REPLACE HIGHER POLLUTING GASOLINE POWERED CARS.

Defendants (1)

• GENERAL MOTORSNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION

  3044 WEST GRAND BLVD, DETROIT, MI, 48202

  Registry ID: 110061867190

Statutes cited

• CAA 203 — Prohibited Acts - Motor Vehicle & Motor Vehicle Engines

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• U.S. V GENERAL MOTORSentered 1995-11-30

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $11,000,000

Timeline (6 milestones)

• 1994-09-01Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1994-10-22Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1995-11-30Final Order Lodged
• 1995-11-30Final Order Entered
• 1995-11-30Complaint Filed With Court
• 1995-11-30Concluded