Thursday, November 15, 2012

EPA FINES Yuan Cheng International Group, Inc. (YCIG) and NST, Inc. (NST)

The EPA has been on a roll the last few years allegedly going after importers in Miami, Dallas, and Chicago. If you noticed all of them had similar vehicles and factories in Asia except for on Taiwanese brand many of these guys seemed to share the same lab data and EPA numbers. Certain industry people including Scoot Magazine would point this out and make it a point to not list in the magazine anyone that couldn't provide its own EPA certificates. The lack of enforcement was amazing the last few years, but the agency apparently has made up for it by attacking two of the best known CHINESE mainland brands. Even more interesting is that the EPA revealed the number of vehicles that were imported if you check below it reads 17,000 plus units!

Back in the early 2000-2003 years you would see staff from DOT and EPA at the Dealer Expo in Indianapolis including the former head of DOT Motorcycle Compliance. This is before the big boom in 2003 when China flooded the US market.

These fines can make or break a company, one need only search Google to see that Vento, Roketa, NST and certain other brands are no longer on the market thanks to EPA fines. Some other companies have had to spend thousands on lawyers, loose millions in confiscated product, or even in some extreme cases sell part of the company to investors to stay in business. The EPA vs CF MOTO four years ago is one of the longest running standoffs in the US Scooter business.

So this final press release from the EPA this week (sorry that I missed it) should come as no surprise. The industry is being pushed to Electric Vehicles and to better compliance with emissions.

Only time will tell if other Chinese companies listen and start playing by the same rules everyone elses plays by.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 14, 2012


Vehicle And Engine Importers To Pay Civil Penalty To Resolve Clean Air Act Violations

Senior company executives jointly liable for consent decree obligations 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice announced a settlement with two former importers of highway motorcycles, recreational vehicles, and small spark ignition engines. The defendants, Yuan Cheng International Group, Inc. (YCIG) and NST, Inc. (NST), located in Montclair, Calif., allegedly imported and sold vehicles and engines from China in violation of Clean Air Act requirements.

The settlement resolves allegations that, between 2006 and 2011, the companies imported and introduced into commerce 17,521 recreational vehicles, highway motorcycles, and nonroad spark ignition engines without proper EPA certifications required under the Clean Air Act to prevent excess emissions of pollutants. Vehicles and engines that are not certified may be operating without proper emissions controls and can emit excess carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides and cause respiratory illnesses, aggravate asthma and contribute to the formation of ground level ozone, or smog. The settlement also resolves claims for failure to adequately respond to EPA’s requests for information and labeling violations under the Clean Air Act.

The settlement requires the companies and Mr. John Cheng and Ms. Jenny Yu, senior company executives, to pay a combined civil penalty of $50,000. This amount is based on the United States’ determination that the parties have a limited ability to pay a civil penalty in this matter.  Both companies have ceased importing vehicles and engines and are now dissolved.  In the fall of 2010, NST agreed to pay $250,000 to the State of California to resolve similar violations concerning the illegal sale of uncertified vehicles.

“When companies or their executives fail to comply with U.S. standards when importing vehicles and engines into the United States, it affects the nation’s air quality, impacts consumers and puts businesses that play by the rules at a disadvantage,” said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Today’s settlement demonstrates EPA’s commitment to ensuring that imports comply with requirements that protect our nation’s air quality, while leveling the playing field for businesses that comply with the law.”

“We will continue to vigorously enforce the law to ensure that imported vehicles and engines comply with U.S. laws so that American consumers get environmentally sound products and violators do not gain an unfair economic advantage,” said Ignacia S. Moreno, assistant attorney general for the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice.  “By holding individuals personally accountable under the consent decree, this settlement shows not only that we will pursue companies who violate the law, but where appropriate, will take additional measures to ensure that individual executives who act on behalf of companies cannot repeat the same conduct under a new corporate identity.”

In addition, Mr. Cheng and Ms. Yu must enter into a compliance plan with EPA prior to any future importation, distribution, selling, or offering for sale of any products covered by the Clean Air Act. They must also provide EPA with notice prior to forming any U.S. business entity that engages in the importation, distribution, selling or offering for sale of any products covered by the Clean Air Act, or before individually engaging in such activities.  Mr. Cheng and Ms. Yu may be liable for any additional penalties for any violations of the settlement agreement, including $25,000 per vehicle or engine imported, sold or distributed that is not in accordance with an EPA-approved compliance plan, and up to $5,000 per day for each failure to provide notice to EPA as mentioned above.

John Cheng (also known as Yuan Cheng) was the sole shareholder, director, president, secretary, chief financial officer, and treasurer of the YCIG. NST was the corporate successor to YCIG after YCIG dissolved. Mr. Cheng’s wife, Ms. Jenny Yu, was the president, secretary, chief financial officer, one of two directors, and a 50 percent  shareholder of NST.  Mr. Cheng was the other 50 percent shareholder of NST.  Both Mr. Cheng and Ms. Yu are individually bound by the terms of the settlement and are personally jointly and severally liable for the liabilities and obligations arising from the consent decree.

The Clean Air Act prohibits any vehicle or engine from being imported and sold in the United States unless it is covered by a valid, EPA-issued certificate of conformity indicating that the vehicle or engine meets applicable federal emission standards. The certificate of conformity is the primary way EPA ensures that imported vehicles and engines meet emission standards. This settlement is part of an ongoing effort by EPA to ensure that all imported vehicles and engines comply with the Clean Air Act’s requirements.

More information about EPA enforcement of mobile sources: http://www.epa.gov/enforcement/air/index.html#mobile

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