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2017 | OriginalPaper | Buchkapitel

United States of America

verfasst von : Joseph Allan MacDougald

Erschienen in: The Dieselgate

Verlag: Springer International Publishing

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Abstract

On 18 September 2015, a United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) news conference shocked both the environmental and automotive worlds alike: Volkswagen AG (VW) admitted to installing software, called a defeat device, that artificially reduced emissions in hundreds of thousands of diesel automobiles, making the cars appear to pass the EPA’s emissions testing, but, when driven in the real world, increased the car’s emissions from 10 to 40 times the legal limit. These cars sold, in-part, for their environmental benefits were now the subject of a massive, multi-agency EPA investigation. Within weeks, VW would reserve billions of dollars in anticipation of the expense, its CEO would resign, and litigation and government enforcement actions would begin. This chapter provides the legal background for defeat devices, describes the discovery of VW’s emission irregularities, and presents the structure of some of the United States legal actions against VW. It concludes with some thoughts about the future of this issue and emissions testing.

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Fußnoten
1
Letter re: Notice of Violation from Phillip A. Brooks, Director, Air Enforcement Division, EPA, to Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, and Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (18 September 2015). Available at http://​www.​epa.​gov/​sites/​production/​files/​2015-10/​documents/​vw-nov-caa-09-18-15.​pdf.
 
2
Environmental Protection Agency (1998).
 
3
Quoted in Gardner and Woodall (2015).
 
4
See Squatriglia (2008).
 
5
Davenport and Ewing (2015).
 
6
See Volkswagen (2015a).
 
7
See Volkswagen (2015b).
 
8
See Sloat (2016).
 
9
Letter re: Notice of Violation from Susan Shinkman, Director, Office of Civil Enforcement, EPA, to Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, Porsche AG, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (2 November 2015), http://​www.​epa.​gov/​sites/​production/​files/​2015-11/​documents/​vw-nov-2015-11-02.​pdf.
 
10
Federal Trade Commission (2016).
 
11
Press Release, Volkswagen AG, Volkswagen reaches settlement agreements with US Federal Regulators, private plaintiffs and 44 U.S. States on TDI Diesel Engine Vehicles (28 June 2015). Available at http://​media.​vw.​com/​release/​1214.
 
12
Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C. §§1531–1544 (2012).
 
13
Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §§1251–1388 (2012).
 
14
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. §§4321–4347 (2012).
 
15
Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. §§7401–7671 (2012).
 
16
See, generally, US EPA, Clean Air Act Requirements and History—http://​www.​epa.​gov/​clean-air-act-overview/​clean-air-act-requirements-and-history.
 
17
Clean Air Act §202, 42 U.S.C. §7521 (2012). For a summary of the CAA’s provisions see the EPA’s website: http://​www.​epa.​gov/​clean-air-act-overview/​title-ii-emission-standards-moving-sources.
 
18
See Chevron, U.S.A., Inc. v. Nat. Res. Def. Council, Inc., 467 U.S. 837 (1984).
 
19
42 U.S.C. §7525 (2012).
 
20
Motor Vehicle Mfrs. Ass’n of U.S., Inc. v. New York State Dep’t of Envtl. Conservation, 810 F. Supp. 1331, 1337 (N.D.N.Y. 1993).
 
21
442 U.S.C. §7543(a) (2012).
 
22
442 U.S.C. §7543(b) (2012).
 
23
See Ridge (1994).
 
24
For description and historical context of EPA testing, see Motor Vehicle Mfrs. Ass’n of U.S., Inc. v. New York State Dep’t of Envtl. Conservation, 810 F.Supp. 1331, 1336 (N.D.N.Y. 1993).
 
25
40 C.F.R. 86.078-3 et seq.
 
26
General Motors Corp, v. Ruckelshaus, 742 F.2d 1561 (D.C. Cir. 1984).
 
27
42 U.S.C. §7522(a)(3)(B) (2012).
 
28
40 CFR 86.1803-01.
 
29
Plungis (2015).
 
30
See Press Release, DOJ, U.S. Announces $45 Million Clean Air Settlement with GM (30 November 1995). Available at https://​www.​justice.​gov/​archive/​opa/​pr/​Pre_​96/​November95/​596.​txt.​html.
 
31
Press Release, DOJ, EPA Announce One Billion Dollar Settlement with Diesel Engine Industry for Clean Air Violations (22nd October 1998). Available at http://​www.​clm.​com/​publication.​cfm?​ID=​3540.
 
32
Reitze (2016).
 
33
See, e.g., Bendavid (1998).
 
34
Jens Hadler et al., Volkswagen’s New 2.0 l TDI Engine for the Most Stringent Emission Standards, Part 1, 69 MTZ WORLDWIDE 12 (May 2008); Jens Hadler et al., Volkswagen’s New 2.0 l TDI Engine for the Most Stringent Emission Standards, Part 2, 69 MTZ WORLDWIDE 54 (June 2008).
 
35
Goodman (2015).
 
36
See, generally, Press Release, US EPA, Air and Radiation, California Notify Volkswagen of Clean Air Act Violations/Carmaker allegedly used software that circumvents emissions testing for certain air pollutants (18 September 2015). Available at https://​www.​epa.​gov/​newsreleases/​epa-california-notify-volkswagen-clean-air-act-violations-carmaker-allegedly-used.
 
37
See US EPA, Office of Mobile Sources, Emission Facts (May 1999). http://​www3.​epa.​gov/​otaq/​consumer/​f99017.​pdf.
 
38
See Goodman (2015).
 
39
Environmental Protection Agency (1999).
 
41
For a summary description of the LEV II phase-in, see https://​www.​dieselnet.​com/​standards/​us/​ld_​ca.​php#levii.
 
42
Pew Charitable Trusts (2011).
 
43
Department of Transportation (2014).
 
44
See Metro. Taxicab Bd. of Trade v. City of New York, 615 F.3d 152 (2d Cir. 2010).
 
45
Massachusetts v. E.P.A., 549 US 497 (2007).
 
46
Massachusetts v. E.P.A., 549 US 528 (2007).
 
47
Goodman (2015).
 
48
See Ulrich (2008).
 
49
Reitze (2016).
 
50
See De Chant (2015).
 
51
De Chant (2015).
 
52
Green Car Congress, Volkswagen Testing Tier 2 Bin 5 “Clean TDI,” slated for production in 2008, newsletter (5 January 2007). http://​www.​greencarcongress​.​com/​2007/​01/​volkswagen_​test.​html.
 
53
Viz. Zeller (2010).
 
54
Viz. Ulrich (2008).
 
55
Squatriglia (2008).
 
56
Quoted in Plungis and Hull (2015).
 
57
Reitze (2016).
 
58
For a video showing CAFEE’s testing apparatus, see http://​go.​wvu.​edu/​1JrRlct.
 
59
Quoted in Morgan (2015).
 
60
Letter re: Notice of Violation Phillip A. Brooks, Director, Air Enforcement Division, EPA, to Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, and Volkswagen Group of America Inc. (18th September 2015). Available at http://​www.​eenews.​net/​assets/​2016/​03/​31/​document_​gw_​05.​pdf.
 
61
Vlasic and Kessler (2015).
 
62
Vlasic and Kessler (2015).
 
63
Vlasic and Kessler (2015).
 
64
Press Release, US EPA, Air and Radiation, California Notify Volkswagen of Clean Air Act Violations/Carmaker allegedly used software that circumvents emissions testing for certain air pollutants (18 September 2015). Available at https://​www.​epa.​gov/​newsreleases/​epa-california-notify-volkswagen-clean-air-act-violations-carmaker-allegedly-used.
 
65
Reitze (2016).
 
66
Complaint, United States v. Volkswagen AG, et al., No. 2:16-CV-10006 (E.D. Mich. January 4, 2016), http://​www.​justice.​gov/​opa/​file/​809826/​download.
 
67
Complaint at 5, Federal Trade Commission v. Volkswagen Group of America, No. 3:16CV01534(LJM)(MJH), (N.D. Cal. March 29, 2016), https://​www.​justice.​gov/​opa/​file/​809826/​download.
 
68
Boston (2016).
 
69
In re: Volkswagen “Clean Diesel” Mktg., Sales Practices, & Products Liab. Litig., 148 F. Supp. 3d 1367 (U.S. Jud. Pan. Mult. Lit. 2015).
 
70
In re: Volkswagen “Clean Diesel” Mktg., Sales Practices, & Products Liab. Litig., 148 F. Supp. 3d 1367 (U.S. Jud. Pan. Mult. Lit. 2015).
 
71
Fed. R. Civ. P. 23.
 
72
Reitze (2016).
 
73
Viz. Press Release, US EPA, Air and Radiation, Volkswagen to Spend up to $14.7 Billion (18 September 2015). Available at http://​www.​epa.​gov/​newsreleases/​volkswagen-spend-147-billion-settle-allegations-cheating-emissions-tests-and-deceiving.
 
74
Volkswagen AG (2016).
 
75
Viz. Wall Street Journal (2016).
 
76
Viz. Hull (2016).
 
77
Amended Order Giving Preliminary Approval of Settlement, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, Judge Charles Breyer, MDL No. 2672 CRB. Judge Charles Breyer (29 June 2016).
 
78
Transcript of Proceedings, In re: Volkswagen “Clean Diesel” Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation (28 July 2016), Case 3:15-md-02672-CRB, p. 76.
 
79
See Press Release, Volkswagen AG, Volkswagen reaches settlement agreements with U.S. Federal Regulators, private plaintiffs and 44 U.S. States on TDI Diesel Engine Vehicles (28 June 2015). Available at http://​media.​vw.​com/​release/​1214.
 
80
Federal Trade Commission (2016).
 
81
Letter re: Notice of Violation from Susan Shinkman, Director, Office of Civil Enforcement, EPA, to Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, Porsche AG, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (2 November 2015), http://​www.​epa.​gov/​sites/​production/​files/​2015-11/​documents/​vw-nov-2015-11-02.​pdf.
 
82
De Chant (2015).
 
83
Letter re: Notice of Violation from Susan Shinkman, Director, Office of Civil Enforcement, EPA, to Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, Porsche AG, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (2 November 2015), http://​www.​epa.​gov/​sites/​production/​files/​2015-11/​documents/​vw-nov-2015-11-02.​pdf.
 
84
US EPA, Volkswagen Light Duty Diesel Vehicle Violations for Model Years 2009–2016, http://​www.​epa.​gov/​vw.
 
85
Perkins (2016).
 
86
Harder and Viswanatha (2015).
 
87
Barrett et al. (2015).
 
88
Reitze (2016).
 
89
42 U.S.C. §7524 (2012).
 
90
42 U.S.C. §7413(c) (2012), et seq.
 
91
42 U.S.C. 7413(c)(2)(c) (2012).
 
92
42 U.S.C. 7413(c)(2)(c) (2012).
 
93
18 U.S.C. 1503 (2012), et seq.
 
94
18 U.S.C. 2 (2012).
 
95
For an analysis of several criminal avenues for prosecution, see Reitze (2016).
 
96
See Press Release, the DOJ, U.S. Announces $45 Million Clean Air Settlement with GM (30 November 1995). Available at https://​www.​justice.​gov/​archive/​opa/​pr/​Pre_​96/​November95/​596.​txt.​html.
 
97
Letter re: Toyota Motor Corporation—Deferred Prosecution Agreement from Preet Bahara, United States Attorney, Southern District of New York, to Attorneys for Toyota, https://​www.​justice.​gov/​sites/​default/​files/​usao-sdny/​legacy/​2015/​03/​25/​Toyota%20​DPA%2C%20​Statement%20​of%20​Facts%2C%20​and%20​Information.​pdf.
 
98
18 U.S.C. 1343 (2012).
 
99
Press Release, United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Criminal Charges Against General Motors and Deferred Prosecution Agreement with $900 Million Forfeiture (17 September 2015), http://​www.​justice.​gov/​usao-sdny/​pr/​manhattan-us-attorney-announces-criminal-charges-against-general-motors-and-deferred.
 
100
Exhibit B to Deferred Prosecution Agreement, United States of America v. General Motors, No. 1:15-cv-07342 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 17, 2015). Available at http://​www.​justice.​gov/​usao-sdny/​file/​772311/​download.
 
101
18 U.S.C. §1001 (2012).
 
102
Memorandum re: Individual Accountability for Corporate Wrongdoing from Sally Quillian Yates, Deputy Attorney General, to All United States Attorneys (9 September 2015), http://​www.​justice.​gov/​dag/​file/​769036/​download.
 
103
Memorandum re: Individual Accountability for Corporate Wrongdoing from Sally Quillian Yates, Deputy Attorney General, to All United States Attorneys (9 September 2015), http://​www.​justice.​gov/​dag/​file/​769036/​download.
 
104
See Schultz (2016).
 
105
Letter re: Notice of Violation Phillip A. Brooks, Director, Air Enforcement Division, EPA, to Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, and Volkswagen Group of America Inc. (18 September 2015). Available at http://​www.​eenews.​net/​assets/​2016/​03/​31/​document_​gw_​05.​pdf.
 
106
Bomey (2016).
 
Literatur
Zurück zum Zitat Reitze AW (2016) The Volkswagen air pollution emissions litigation. Environ Law Rep 46:10,565–10,571 Reitze AW (2016) The Volkswagen air pollution emissions litigation. Environ Law Rep 46:10,565–10,571
Zurück zum Zitat Ridge JH (1994) Deconstructing the clean air act: examining the controversy surrounding Massachusetts’ adoption of the California Low Emission Vehicle Program. Boston Coll Environ Aff Law Rev 22(1):163–199 Ridge JH (1994) Deconstructing the clean air act: examining the controversy surrounding Massachusetts’ adoption of the California Low Emission Vehicle Program. Boston Coll Environ Aff Law Rev 22(1):163–199
Metadaten
Titel
United States of America
verfasst von
Joseph Allan MacDougald
Copyright-Jahr
2017
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48323-8_5