President Trump pardoned a diesel mechanic convicted of violating the Clean Air Act in November, and now, he’s done it again. On the eve of Independence Day, the Commander-in-Chief granted clemency to more than half a dozen persons who had previously been sentenced to prison terms, heavy civil penalties and severe criminal fines. This is the latest development in what can only be described as an about-face regarding the federal government’s stance on environmental enforcement.
The president said during an Oval Office press conference that these cases came to his attention “because (he) saw that they were arresting people for fixing their cars.” He later said, “We rule by common sense.”
He is referring to the use of defeat devices, which enable vehicles to operate without federally mandated emissions devices such as diesel particulate filters and exhaust gas recirculation systems. DPF and EGR are often blamed for costly repairs as well as extensive downtime of commercial vehicles. The broader term “defeat devices” may refer to hardware or software, often sold together as a defeat kit. In short, the hardware replaces the components causing the trouble, while the software rewrites the code on the vehicle’s electronic control unit so it will still run.
Joining Troy Lake, previously waived owners of Elite Diesel Service in Wyoming, are Joshua Davis, Matt Geose, Jonathan Achtmeier, Tim Clancy, Ryan and Wade LaLone, Barry Pierce, Aaron Rudolph and Mackenzie Spurlock.
Of course, these aren’t the only mechanics and tuners found guilty of emissions tampering. The Environmental Protection Agency spent years prioritizing enforcement of the Clean Air Act, even raiding a person’s home and seizing the equipment they were selling. Much of this has been undone under current EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, who has emphasized regulation during his tenure. Some of his biggest moves in the automotive sector include eliminating auto start/stop and telling truck manufacturers to stop imposing power restrictions immediately when vehicles run low on diesel exhaust fluid.
Although there have been some mixed messages recently, with the Justice Department studying data from diesel truck owners in a high-profile case, the change seems clear: Neither the president nor the EPA are particularly concerned about enforcing the Clean Air Act when it comes to diesel vehicles. This is a complete contrast to the stance of the previous administration. Where it goes from here is still uncertain, but don’t be surprised if you hear more news on this topic going forward.
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