EPA Fines Midwest Motors in Eureka, Missouri, for Alleged Automobile ‘Defeat Device’ Violations
LENEXA, KAN. (OCT. 13, 2022) – Auto dealership and repair shop Midwest Motors of Eureka, Missouri, will pay a $15,000 civil penalty for allegedly tampering with car engines to render emissions controls inoperative in violation of the federal Clean Air Act.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Kociela Enterprises Inc., doing business as Midwest Motors, sold or installed so-called “defeat devices” on at least 21 occasions.
“Illegally tampering with auto emissions controls creates harmful air pollution and is a violation of federal law,” said David Cozad, director of the EPA Region 7’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. “EPA will hold accountable individuals and companies who manufacture, sell, and install defeat devices.”
In addition to paying the civil penalty, Midwest Motors certified that it would not sell or install defeat devices in the future.
Tampering of car engines, including installation of aftermarket defeat devices intended to bypass manufacturer emissions controls, results in significantly higher releases of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, both of which contribute to serious public health problems in the United States. 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.
Stopping aftermarket defeat devices for vehicles and engines is a top priority for EPA. The Agency identified this goal as one of seven National Compliance Initiatives in 2019. Learn more on EPA’s website.
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According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Kociela Enterprises Inc., doing business as Midwest Motors, sold or installed so-called “defeat devices” on at least 21 occasions.
“Illegally tampering with auto emissions controls creates harmful air pollution and is a violation of federal law,” said David Cozad, director of the EPA Region 7’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. “EPA will hold accountable individuals and companies who manufacture, sell, and install defeat devices.”
In addition to paying the civil penalty, Midwest Motors certified that it would not sell or install defeat devices in the future.
Tampering of car engines, including installation of aftermarket defeat devices intended to bypass manufacturer emissions controls, results in significantly higher releases of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, both of which contribute to serious public health problems in the United States. 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.
Stopping aftermarket defeat devices for vehicles and engines is a top priority for EPA. The Agency identified this goal as one of seven National Compliance Initiatives in 2019. Learn more on EPA’s website.
# # #
Learn more about EPA Region 7
View all Region 7 news releases
Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion7
Follow us on Twitter: @EPARegion7
EPA Selects Recipients of More Than $9 Million in Pollution Prevention Grants
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the selection of 32 recipients across the country that will receive over $9 million in pollution prevention (P2) grants made possible by recurring appropriation to EPA’s P2 program. These grants will allow states and Tribes to provide businesses with technical assistance to prevent or reduce pollution before it is even created, while also reducing costs.
The grants announced today are in addition to $12 million in P2 grants that were announced in September and made possible by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s historic $100 million program investment in EPA’s P2 program.
“For more than 30 years, EPA’s P2 grants have helped businesses implement best practices to reduce dangerous pollution in communities, including those that are overburdened and vulnerable,” said EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Deputy Assistant Administrator for Pollution Prevention Jennie Romer. “Preventing pollution before it starts is an important step in our work to deliver on President Biden’s ambitious environmental agenda, tackle the climate crisis and advance environmental justice.”
Many proposed projects center on communities with environmental justice concerns including one in Louisiana that will provide technical assistance to chemical, metal, and food and beverage manufacturers in overburdened communities between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. A project in Rhode Island will use the EPA P2 Environmental Justice (EJ) Facility Mapping Tool to target technical assistance to metal manufacturers and fabricators in disadvantaged communities to reduce pollutants and wastewater discharges. In California, the Yurok Tribe will produce a case study on controlling invasive weeds on their ancestral lands without using herbicides.
The grants announced today, as well as P2 grants funded under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law also deliver on the President’s Justice40 initiative, which aims to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of climate, clean energy, affordable and sustainable housing, clean water, and other investments to disadvantaged communities. EPA anticipates the majority of grants will successfully direct at least 40% of their environmental and human health benefits onto disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution.
The United States produces billions of pounds of pollution each year and spends billions of dollars per year controlling this pollution. Preventing pollution at the source, also known as P2 or source reduction, rather than managing waste after it is produced is an important part of advancing a sustainable economic and environmental infrastructure. P2 can lessen exposure to toxic chemicals, conserve natural resources, and reduce financial costs for businesses, particularly costs associated with waste management, disposal and cleanup. These practices are essential for protecting health, improving environmental conditions in and around disadvantaged communities, and preserving natural resources like wetlands, groundwater sources, and other critical ecosystems.
Selected grantees will, if awarded, document and share P2 best practices that they identify and develop through these grants, so that others can replicate these practices and outcomes. Each selected grantee will address at least one of six National Emphasis Areas (NEAs), which were established to focus resources to achieve measurable results and to create opportunities to share information among P2 grantees and businesses affiliated with similar NEAs. Each selected grantee will also develop at least one case study during the grant period on P2 practices that are new or not widely known or adopted, or where detailed information on the P2 practices could benefit other businesses or P2 technical assistance providers.
EPA anticipates that it will award the grants once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied. Grants supported will be incrementally funded at the time grants are awarded.
A full list of the entities selected to receive funding can be found below.
Read more about P2 and the P2 Grant Programs.
List of Grantees
California: Yurok Tribe
Colorado: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Connecticut: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Delaware: University of Delaware
Idaho: Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
Illinois: University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Illinois: University of Illinois, Chicago
Iowa: Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Kansas: Kansas State University
Kentucky: Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection
Louisiana: Louisiana State University
Maryland: Maryland Department of the Environment
Massachusetts: University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Minnesota: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Montana: Montana State University
Nebraska: University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Nevada: Western Nevada College
New Hampshire: New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
New Jersey: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
New Jersey: New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Jersey: Rowan University
North Carolina: East Carolina University
North Carolina: North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Oregon: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania State University
Rhode Island: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
Tennessee: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
Texas: University of Texas, at Arlington
Virginia: Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Washington: Washington State Department of Ecology
Washington, D.C.: DC Department of Energy and Environment
West Virginia: West Virginia University
The grants announced today are in addition to $12 million in P2 grants that were announced in September and made possible by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s historic $100 million program investment in EPA’s P2 program.
“For more than 30 years, EPA’s P2 grants have helped businesses implement best practices to reduce dangerous pollution in communities, including those that are overburdened and vulnerable,” said EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Deputy Assistant Administrator for Pollution Prevention Jennie Romer. “Preventing pollution before it starts is an important step in our work to deliver on President Biden’s ambitious environmental agenda, tackle the climate crisis and advance environmental justice.”
Many proposed projects center on communities with environmental justice concerns including one in Louisiana that will provide technical assistance to chemical, metal, and food and beverage manufacturers in overburdened communities between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. A project in Rhode Island will use the EPA P2 Environmental Justice (EJ) Facility Mapping Tool to target technical assistance to metal manufacturers and fabricators in disadvantaged communities to reduce pollutants and wastewater discharges. In California, the Yurok Tribe will produce a case study on controlling invasive weeds on their ancestral lands without using herbicides.
The grants announced today, as well as P2 grants funded under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law also deliver on the President’s Justice40 initiative, which aims to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of climate, clean energy, affordable and sustainable housing, clean water, and other investments to disadvantaged communities. EPA anticipates the majority of grants will successfully direct at least 40% of their environmental and human health benefits onto disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution.
The United States produces billions of pounds of pollution each year and spends billions of dollars per year controlling this pollution. Preventing pollution at the source, also known as P2 or source reduction, rather than managing waste after it is produced is an important part of advancing a sustainable economic and environmental infrastructure. P2 can lessen exposure to toxic chemicals, conserve natural resources, and reduce financial costs for businesses, particularly costs associated with waste management, disposal and cleanup. These practices are essential for protecting health, improving environmental conditions in and around disadvantaged communities, and preserving natural resources like wetlands, groundwater sources, and other critical ecosystems.
Selected grantees will, if awarded, document and share P2 best practices that they identify and develop through these grants, so that others can replicate these practices and outcomes. Each selected grantee will address at least one of six National Emphasis Areas (NEAs), which were established to focus resources to achieve measurable results and to create opportunities to share information among P2 grantees and businesses affiliated with similar NEAs. Each selected grantee will also develop at least one case study during the grant period on P2 practices that are new or not widely known or adopted, or where detailed information on the P2 practices could benefit other businesses or P2 technical assistance providers.
EPA anticipates that it will award the grants once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied. Grants supported will be incrementally funded at the time grants are awarded.
A full list of the entities selected to receive funding can be found below.
Read more about P2 and the P2 Grant Programs.
List of Grantees
California: Yurok Tribe
Colorado: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Connecticut: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Delaware: University of Delaware
Idaho: Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
Illinois: University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Illinois: University of Illinois, Chicago
Iowa: Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Kansas: Kansas State University
Kentucky: Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection
Louisiana: Louisiana State University
Maryland: Maryland Department of the Environment
Massachusetts: University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Minnesota: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Montana: Montana State University
Nebraska: University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Nevada: Western Nevada College
New Hampshire: New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
New Jersey: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
New Jersey: New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Jersey: Rowan University
North Carolina: East Carolina University
North Carolina: North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Oregon: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania State University
Rhode Island: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
Tennessee: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
Texas: University of Texas, at Arlington
Virginia: Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Washington: Washington State Department of Ecology
Washington, D.C.: DC Department of Energy and Environment
West Virginia: West Virginia University
EPA to Host Four Lead Awareness Sessions in St. Louis to Reduce Childhood Lead Exposure
LENEXA, KAN. (OCT. 13, 2022) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host four lead awareness training sessions in St. Louis in October and November to reduce childhood lead exposure.
The Enhancing Lead-Safe Work Practices through Education and Outreach (ELSWPEO) program comes as EPA celebrates Children’s Health Month and prepares for National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week Oct. 23-29.
EPA is hosting four free sessions in St. Louis:
Lead Awareness Curriculum Train-the-Trainer to learn how to use and modify the Lead Awareness Curriculum to teach your community about lead:
Tuesday, Oct. 18, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Neighborhood Innovation Center, 3207 Meramec Street, St. Louis, MO 63118
Register online
Understanding Lead to learn about lead, its impacts, and actions you can take to prevent lead exposure and lead poisoning:
Thursday, Oct. 27, 1 to 3 p.m.
Online webinar
Register online
Training for Contractors focused on Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) firms working on pre-1978 homes to become lead-safe certified under EPA’s RRP rule:
Monday, Nov. 7, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Courtyard by Marriott, 823-827 Washington Ave, St. Louis, MO 63101
Register online
Tuesday, Nov. 8, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Courtyard by Marriott, 823-827 Washington Ave, St. Louis, MO 63101
Register online
“This initiative demonstrates how collaboration between national, state, local, and tribal governments and organizations can protect underserved communities from exposure to toxic chemicals like lead,” said Michal Freedhoff, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. “Many communities across the U.S. are still at risk for lead exposure, and we are committed to lowering and preventing it.”
During ELSWPEO outreach to 11 communities in 2021, this EPA initiative certified 282 contractors in lead-safe work practices and educated 245 community leaders and 170 community members with information about childhood lead exposure.
Building on this success, EPA is working with numerous partners to implement ELSWPEO for its second year, as part of its activities for National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week.
Learn more about ELSWPEO, RRP training dates and locations, and Lead Awareness Curriculum sessions.
Information on ELSWPEO in Spanish.
# # #
Learn more about EPA Region 7
View all Region 7 news releases
Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @EPARegion7
The Enhancing Lead-Safe Work Practices through Education and Outreach (ELSWPEO) program comes as EPA celebrates Children’s Health Month and prepares for National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week Oct. 23-29.
EPA is hosting four free sessions in St. Louis:
Lead Awareness Curriculum Train-the-Trainer to learn how to use and modify the Lead Awareness Curriculum to teach your community about lead:
Tuesday, Oct. 18, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Neighborhood Innovation Center, 3207 Meramec Street, St. Louis, MO 63118
Register online
Understanding Lead to learn about lead, its impacts, and actions you can take to prevent lead exposure and lead poisoning:
Thursday, Oct. 27, 1 to 3 p.m.
Online webinar
Register online
Training for Contractors focused on Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) firms working on pre-1978 homes to become lead-safe certified under EPA’s RRP rule:
Monday, Nov. 7, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Courtyard by Marriott, 823-827 Washington Ave, St. Louis, MO 63101
Register online
Tuesday, Nov. 8, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Courtyard by Marriott, 823-827 Washington Ave, St. Louis, MO 63101
Register online
“This initiative demonstrates how collaboration between national, state, local, and tribal governments and organizations can protect underserved communities from exposure to toxic chemicals like lead,” said Michal Freedhoff, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. “Many communities across the U.S. are still at risk for lead exposure, and we are committed to lowering and preventing it.”
During ELSWPEO outreach to 11 communities in 2021, this EPA initiative certified 282 contractors in lead-safe work practices and educated 245 community leaders and 170 community members with information about childhood lead exposure.
Building on this success, EPA is working with numerous partners to implement ELSWPEO for its second year, as part of its activities for National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week.
Learn more about ELSWPEO, RRP training dates and locations, and Lead Awareness Curriculum sessions.
Information on ELSWPEO in Spanish.
# # #
Learn more about EPA Region 7
View all Region 7 news releases
Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @EPARegion7
CBP Announces Additional Partnerships for New and Expanded Services
These public-private partnerships will allow approved private sector and state and local government entities to reimburse CBP for expanded services for incoming commercial and cargo traffic and international traveler arrivals in Arkansas; California…
QB 23–334 2023 Global Refined Sugar TRQ Results
COMMODITY
Refined and Specialty Sugar (7,090,000 kg)
The Global Refined Sugar Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) opened on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 and over-subscribed at opening moment. The prorata percentage of 28.99093 or .2899093 was calculated via ACE…
Refined and Specialty Sugar (7,090,000 kg)
The Global Refined Sugar Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) opened on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 and over-subscribed at opening moment. The prorata percentage of 28.99093 or .2899093 was calculated via ACE…
QB 22-299 2022 Bulk Infant Formula Base Powders
The President signed H.R. 8982, the Bulk Infant Formula to Retail Shelves Act on October 10, 2022. The effective date is October 13, 2022, the third day after signature.
Duty-free treatment will only be provided to importers of base powder to be…
Duty-free treatment will only be provided to importers of base powder to be…
Biden-Harris Administration Invests $110 Million to Improve Health Care for Rural People in 43 States and Guam
LEBANON, N.H., Oct. 12, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small today announced that USDA is awarding $110 million in grants to improve health care facilities in rural towns (PDF, 423 KB) across the Nation. These grants will help 208 rural health care organizations expand critical services for nearly 5 million people in 43 states and Guam.
EPA 宣布就《铅铜改进条例》的环境正义公开征求公众意见
华盛顿（2022 年 10 月 12 日） – 美国国家环境保护局 (EPA) 将举办两场网络公开会议，针对提出的《铅铜改进条例》(LCRI) 的制定，探讨环境正义相关考量并征求公众意见。EPA 将通过这些会议分享即将开展的 LCRI 规则制定的相关信息，同时让个人提出与该条例相关的环境正义方面的意见。
EPA 水务署助理署长 Radhika Fox 说：“为确保在《铅铜改进条例》中确保环境正义，我们努力让受到铅污染负面影响的弱势社区参与进来，这一点至关重要。这是我们制定改进条例的重要一步，也是替换所有铅供水管道的必要步骤，还是拜登-哈里斯政府在‘含铅管道和油漆行动计划’中的承诺。”
EPA 致力于保护家庭和社区，让他们免受含铅饮用水的影响。在 LCRI 规则制定流程中，EPA 正在考虑优先保护历来服务欠佳并且负担过重的社区。EPA 计划在 2023 年提出 LCRI 并征求公众意见，并在 2024 年 10 月 16 日前做出最终决议。针对提出的 LCRI 的制定征求公众意见是条例制定流程的关键。
这两次公开会议的内容相同，仅以在线形式举行，时间是 2022 年 10 月 25 日（美国东部夏季时间下午 1-4 点）和 11 月 1 日（美国东部夏季时间下午 5-8 点）。感兴趣的公众可在此注册参加会议，并且有机会报名发表口头意见。EPA 鼓励公众就如何公平解决社区中含铅饮用水的问题分享见解。
EPA 也接受公众通过公开卷宗提交书面意见，网址：http://www.regulations.gov/，卷宗 ID：EPA-HQ-OW-2022-0801，截止日期：2022 年 11 月 15 日。
EPA 计划在 2023 年提出 LCRI 并征求公众意见，并在 2024 年 10 月 16 日前做出最终决议。
环境正义公开会议是多项利益相关者参与活动与咨询场次之一，EPA 将在提出 LCRI 前开展。EPA 将在 2022 年 10 月 27 日和 11 月 9 日开展部落协商（了解详细信息）。按照《安全饮用水法》和其他联邦法规和行政命令的要求，EPA 还将与其科学顾问委员会 (SAB)、国家饮用水咨询委员会 (NDWAC)、联邦和地方实体以及小型企业宣传审查 (SBAR) 小组会议进行协商。
详细了解有关安全饮用水和即将进行的《铅铜改进条例》规则制定及相关公众参与活动的信息.
EPA 水务署助理署长 Radhika Fox 说：“为确保在《铅铜改进条例》中确保环境正义，我们努力让受到铅污染负面影响的弱势社区参与进来，这一点至关重要。这是我们制定改进条例的重要一步，也是替换所有铅供水管道的必要步骤，还是拜登-哈里斯政府在‘含铅管道和油漆行动计划’中的承诺。”
EPA 致力于保护家庭和社区，让他们免受含铅饮用水的影响。在 LCRI 规则制定流程中，EPA 正在考虑优先保护历来服务欠佳并且负担过重的社区。EPA 计划在 2023 年提出 LCRI 并征求公众意见，并在 2024 年 10 月 16 日前做出最终决议。针对提出的 LCRI 的制定征求公众意见是条例制定流程的关键。
这两次公开会议的内容相同，仅以在线形式举行，时间是 2022 年 10 月 25 日（美国东部夏季时间下午 1-4 点）和 11 月 1 日（美国东部夏季时间下午 5-8 点）。感兴趣的公众可在此注册参加会议，并且有机会报名发表口头意见。EPA 鼓励公众就如何公平解决社区中含铅饮用水的问题分享见解。
EPA 也接受公众通过公开卷宗提交书面意见，网址：http://www.regulations.gov/，卷宗 ID：EPA-HQ-OW-2022-0801，截止日期：2022 年 11 月 15 日。
EPA 计划在 2023 年提出 LCRI 并征求公众意见，并在 2024 年 10 月 16 日前做出最终决议。
环境正义公开会议是多项利益相关者参与活动与咨询场次之一，EPA 将在提出 LCRI 前开展。EPA 将在 2022 年 10 月 27 日和 11 月 9 日开展部落协商（了解详细信息）。按照《安全饮用水法》和其他联邦法规和行政命令的要求，EPA 还将与其科学顾问委员会 (SAB)、国家饮用水咨询委员会 (NDWAC)、联邦和地方实体以及小型企业宣传审查 (SBAR) 小组会议进行协商。
详细了解有关安全饮用水和即将进行的《铅铜改进条例》规则制定及相关公众参与活动的信息.