This case addresses violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA) by VN Tractors, Inc., a retailer and importer/exporter of agricultural tractors based in Mesquite, Texas. VN Tractors imported 13 Japanese tractors on March 30, 2010. These tractors were not covered by an EPA issued Certificate of Conformity. The CAA requires, among other things, that nonroad equipment be covered by an EPA issued Certificate of Conformity (see 40 C.F.R. section 1068).
On April 22, 2010, EPA requested that U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) seize the generators and that CBP bring an enforcement action against VN Tractors, Inc. This case is part of an on-going EPA/CBP partnership to ensure that all imported vehicles and engines comply with the Clean Air Act requirements (see EPA Works with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to Enforce the Clean Air Act, 11/9/2010 EPA press release, http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003fb69d/25fa777f4dd4a301852577d60072b560!OpenDocument)
As part of the settlement with CBP, VN Tractors has agreed to pay a $8,854 civil penalty and to export or destroy the non-conforming tractors to resolve these violations.