The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice have finalized a settlement with White’s Diesel Performance, Inc., an automotive aftermarket parts distributor based in Nokomis, Florida. The company was accused of failing to respond to an EPA information request, selling illegal "defeat devices" that disable vehicle emission controls, and tampering with motor vehicle emissions systems, violating the Clean Air Act.
White’s Diesel sold or installed at least 748 defeat devices that compromised emissions control systems on vehicles or engines over several years. Additionally, they tampered with the emissions systems of at least 46 vehicles. The company also failed to provide timely and complete responses to an EPA request for information about exhaust-related products it sold or installed over a year.
Given the company's financial situation, White’s Diesel will pay $10,000 in civil penalties as part of the settlement with the EPA. They have agreed to cease selling and installing defeat device products, destroy any remaining inventory of such products, stop removing or disabling emission controls on vehicles, and update their websites and marketing materials by eliminating references to these practices. The company will also publish a public statement about the settlement on its website.
“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 White’s Diesel Performance accountable until these illegal practices stop,” stated Acting Regional Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle. She emphasized that these practices hinder efforts to meet air quality standards crucial for public health protection.
Tampering with vehicle engines using aftermarket defeat devices leads to increased emissions of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. These pollutants are linked to serious health issues in the U.S., including premature mortality and respiratory problems such as asthma aggravation and chronic bronchitis. Studies have also associated diesel exhaust with higher lung cancer rates.
The settlement is expected to reduce annual emissions by 14.8 tons of carbon monoxide (CO), 58.7 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOX), 0.3 tons of particulate matter (PM), and 3.1 tons of non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC). NOX and NMHCs contribute to ground-level ozone formation and fine particulate matter.
Learn more: EPA’s efforts to stop the sale of illegal defeat devices.