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"Green Plus" a Green Minus for Coffers of Fuel Additive Company

Release Date: 11/03/2008
Contact Information: Dave Ryan (202) 564-4355 / ryan.dave@epa.gov

(Washington, D.C. - Nov. 3, 2008) Biofriendly Corp., incorporated in Nevada with principal offices in Covina, Calif., has agreed to pay EPA $1.25 million for manufacturing and selling an unregistered fuel additive in Texas and California.

"The fuel additive requirements of the Clean Air Act are a critical part of EPA's program to reduce air pollution," said Granta Nakayama, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "This is the largest penalty ever levied for violation of the Clean Air Act's registration requirements for fuels and fuel additives."

Biofriendly sold "Green Plus," an unregistered fuel additive it claimed reduced emissions in diesel fuel, between September 2002 and May 2006. When Biofriendly discovered it was in violation, it stopped selling Green Plus domestically.

The Clean Air Act requires that motor vehicle fuels and fuel additives meet stringent environmental standards before they can be distributed. Biofriendly failed to register Green Plus according to EPA procedures ensuring that fuel additives not increase emissions of harmful air pollutants or interfere with vehicle emission control devices. At a minimum, companies must provide EPA with information on the chemical composition and structure of the additive, and may also be required to test products before obtaining EPA registration.

Biofriendly operates in the United States and internationally. The company manufactures, sells, and distributes fuel additives and fuels that contain additives.

The agreement was lodged Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Western Division, and is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval.

More information on the Biofriendly settlement: epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/civil/caa/biofriendlycorp.html