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EPA CITES FIVE AUTO REPAIR SHOPS FOR CLEAN AIR VIOLATIONS

Release Date: 01/02/1997
Contact Information: Alice Kaufman, EPA Press Office, (617) 918-1064

BOSTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking penalties of $1,500 from each of five New England auto repair businesses for violations of the federal Clean Air Act. In each of the cases cited by the agency today, the auto repairs shops tampered with anti-pollution equipment on cars while doing repairs, allowing for increased emissions of harmful tailpipe pollutants. EPA began this investigation in response to numerous complaints received from vehicle owners whose vehicles failed emission tests after having had repairs done to the car.

EPA cited two Malden, Massachusetts repair shops: In Motion Auto and Auto Engineering; Geyer's Garage in Braintree, Massachusetts; Hebert's Used Auto Parts in Goffstown, New Hampshire; and Sports 'n Imports in North Branford, Connecticut for removing or disabling emission control devices and systems in violation of federal law.

"Every car on the road needs to operate at peak efficiency if we are to breathe clean air," said EPA's New England Administrator John P. DeVillars. "Tampering with pollution control equipment robs us all of the right to a healthy environment." DeVillars added that if mechanics from these repair shops fix the anti-pollution equipment at no cost to the customer, the EPA would be willing to reduce the penalties pending against them.

The Clean Air Act prohibits both individuals and auto repair businesses from removing or incapacitating an emission control device such as: catalytic converters, air pumps exhaust gas recirculation valves. Cars made in or imported into the U.S. have a certified emission control system configuration approved by the EPA. Changes in configuration may increase tailpipe emissions significantly.