The U.S. Department of Justice recently issued a $ 180 million fine to Japanese carmaker Toyota for alleged violations of the company’s reporting requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Air Act. The veteran manufacturer’s offenses allegedly lasted about a decade, from about 2005 to at least 2015.
According to the DOJ, on Thursday Toyota delayed the submission of approximately 78 information reports regarding millions of vehicles. The Justice Department also claimed that Toyota had not submitted 20 voluntary emissions recall reports, as well as 200 quarterly reports that the EPA would have to update on emissions reminders, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
Audrey Strauss, acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, noted that Toyota’s actions undermine the EPA’s self-disclosure system. It slowed or avoided the roll-out of relevant emissions reminders, and it benefited the business at the expense of excess emissions.
‘For a decade, Toyota has systematically violated the provisions of EPA, which provide a critical compliance tool to ensure that vehicles on the road meet federal emissions standards. Toyota is keeping its eyes peeled for compliance, failing to provide proper training, attention and oversight of its reporting obligations under the Clean Air Act.
“The actions of Toyota have undermined EPA’s self-disclosure system and are likely to lead to delayed or avoided emissions related to emissions, resulting in financial benefit to Toyota and excess air pollution emissions. “Toyota is paying the price today for its misconduct with a $ 180 million civil fine and an agreement to order that the violations not be repeated,” Strauss said.
Susan Bodine, EPA’s Office of Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance, described Toyota’s actions as a serious violation of the Clean Air Act. “Toyota has not reported mandatory information about possible defects in their cars to the EPA for a decade, keeping the agency in the dark and evading surveillance,” Bodine said.
A Toyota spokesman noted that the company reported five years ago that there was a “process gap” that led to delays in submitting some non-public EPA reports to the automaker. The spokesman did note that Toyota had finally submitted all relevant delayed findings and that the company had begun new reporting and compliance processes. “We realize that some of our reporting protocols do not meet our own high standards, and we are pleased that we have resolved this issue,” the spokesman said.
According to the DOJ, Toyota’s $ 180 million fine is the largest civil fine to date, linked to breaches of the EPA’s emissions reporting requirements.
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