VW Settlement Update / April 2017
Posted by admin on Apr. 6, 2017 / Awards & Grants / Subscribe 0
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality Issues Public Notice on Volkswagen Civil Settlement
Friday, March 31, 2017
On Jan. 4, 2016, and as amended on Oct. 7, 2016, the United States, on behalf of the Environmental Protect Agency (EPA), filed a complaint against Volkswagen (VW) alleging violations of the Clean Air Act regarding approximately 500,000 model year 2009 to 2016 vehicles containing 2.0 liter diesel engines and approximately 80,000 model year 2009 to 2016 motor vehicles containing 3.0 liter diesel engines. The complaint alleges that each of these vehicles contains, as part of the computer control modules, certain algorithms and calibrations that cause the emissions control systems to perform differently during normal vehicle operation and use than when undergoing emissions testing. The use of these prohibited defeat devices caused the vehicles to produce NOx emissions significantly in excess of those allowed by law. On June 28, 2016, the State of California, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), filed a similar complaint against Volkswagen.
Partial Consent Decree
The consent decree provides for the establishment of an Environmental Mitigation Trust to provide funds to the states to remediate the air quality impacts of the 2.0 liter vehicle emissions. Louisiana’s initial share is approximately $18 million over a three-year period. The $18 million to be distributed from the trust fund will pay for defined eligible projects also known as eligible mitigation actions. These include projects to reduce NOx from heavy duty diesel sources near population centers, such as large trucks, school and transit buses. A complete list of eligible mitigation actions is found in Appendix D-2 of the Consent Decree. The goal of each Eligible Mitigation Action shall be to achieve reductions of NOx emissions in the United States.
Louisiana Projects
The state has announced that it will distribute the Mitigation Trust Fund dollars among lasting, sustainable solutions. To this end, the state will give preference to projects proposed by public agencies that offer long-term benefits to the community at large.
The state is considering the replacement of or repowering of publicly owned school buses as provided in the Consent Decree and the replacement of or repowering of aging state-owned heavy equipment fleet vehicles that are eligible under the mitigation trust. The vehicles will be replaced with new cleaner vehicles and or new cleaner burning engines.
As identified in Appendix D, other options are available for consideration.
How to Apply
All proposals must be received by the LDEQ no later than 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 27, 2017. Proposals may be submitted by email at [email protected]; faxed to 225-219-0000; mailed to the Department of Environmental Quality, Attn: Perry Theriot, P.O. Box 4303, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4303; or it may be hand delivered to 602 N. Fifth Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802.
View the Full Public Notice: How to submit your RFP to LDEQ
The full Partial Settlement, including Appendix D is available for review at: https://www.justice.gov/opa/file/871306/download.
Related Links
- EPA – Volkswagen Clean Air Act Civil Settlement
- EPA – Amended 2.0 Liter Partial Consent Decree
- EPA – Webinar for Prospective Beneficiaries to the Mitigation Trust
- CARB – VW 2.0 Liter Settlement Information
- CARB – Subscribe to VW Settlement Updates
- NACAA – State and Local Agency Information
Want to learn more?
Register to attend the LCF Odyssey Day celebration on April 20th in Baton Rouge to hear LDEQ Secretary, Dr. Chuck Carr Brown speak on how the state plans to distribute the funds.
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