U.S. EPA and Customs joint operations at California Ports results in illegal vehicles and engines seized or turned back at border | WPN World People News

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced $94,700 in fines and more than 1,394 items, including engines, scooters and ATVs, that were recently seized, exported out of the country, or destroyed. This was the latest result of their continued joint operations, at the ports of LA, Long Beach, and Oakland, targeting foreign-made vehicles and equipment without proper emission controls, as well as illegal pesticides, imported into the United States in violation of federal law. EPA estimates that the noncompliant vehicles and engines in its enforcement cases announced Wednesday would have emitted at least 215,000 pounds of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and hydrocarbons (HC) per year.

“EPA has been working diligently with CBP officers at the ports to ensure all items entering our nation comply with federal environmental standards,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “We will continue our efforts to reduce pollution and protect consumers from illegal imports.”

Under the joint “Operation Stop Your Engine” initiative, EPA conducted inspections at the three California Ports and worked with CBP to investigate companies that had previously imported engines and vehicles. These inspections found that several companies imported vehicles and engines without certification or with emissions controls that did not meet specifications. Engines operating without adequate emission controls may emit excess carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen which can cause respiratory illnesses, aggravate asthma and lead to the formation of ground level ozone or smog.

In total, five companies paid more than $44,100 in civil penalties for federal Clean Air Act violations:

AKMI Corporation: imported 30 heavy duty diesel engines from China without the proper emission control labels or certificate of conformity. The company was required to have the engines exported out of the country. The company also paid a $8,400 penalty.

Yamazuki, Inc.: imported 108 all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) from China without the proper label showing date of manufacture. In addition, an inspection found that the sampled catalyst did not conform to the description in the company’s application for certification. The company was required to destroy all ATVs or have them exported out of the country. The company also paid a $23,200 penalty.

CLC Logistics, Inc.: imported 1,070 recreational vehicle engines and 30 outboard motor engines from China without the proper labels or certificate of conformity. These spark-ignition engines were seized and will be exported out of the country. The company also paid a $7,133 penalty.

Joyner USA, Inc.: imported six all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) from China without the proper certificate. An inspection found that the sampled catalyst did not conform to the description in the company’s application for certification. The vehicles were seized and will be exported out of the country. The company was also required to pay a $4,100 penalty.

Infinity Source, Inc.: imported 150 chainsaws with engines from China that lacked proper emissions certification, labels, and engine displacement and manufacturer information. The company was required to export all chainsaws out of the country. The company was also required to pay a $1,300 penalty.

Additionally, EPA, with the assistance of CBP, brought enforcement actions under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) against three companies that collectively paid $50,600 in civil penalties for FIFRA violations:

Consus Chemicals, LLC: imported 2,106 bags of the weed-control pesticide Consus Glyphosate Technical into the Port of Los Angeles from China with misleading directions for use. The company corrected the violation by properly re-labeling and was allowed to import the product. The company also paid a $28,400 penalty.

Arysta LifeScience North America, LLC: imported 680 50 kg drums of the unregistered insect-control pesticide Acephate Technical from India with the intent to produce a finished pesticide for export. Arysta did not comply with the requirements applicable to importing an unregistered pesticide, including not properly labeling the imported pesticide. The company corrected the violations by properly re-labeling the product. The company also ensured that the Indian facility that manufactured the product complied with FIFRA annual reporting requirements. The company was allowed to import the product, but paid a $14,700 penalty.

Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC: imported 50 bags of the insect-control pesticide Pymetrozine Technical from China without the required EPA-approved labels including directions for use. After the company corrected the violations by properly re-labeling the products, it was allowed to import the products, but paid a $7,500 penalty.

The Clean Air Act prohibits the importation or sale of any new engines or vehicles unless they are certified by EPA to meet federal emission standards. Every vehicle and engine sold in the U.S. must be covered by an EPA-issued certificate of conformity. To obtain a certificate of conformity, manufacturers or importers must submit an application to EPA that describes the engine or vehicle, including its emission control system. The application must also provide emissions data demonstrating that the engines and vehicles will meet applicable federal emission standards.

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