Vermont
Castings, England Stove Works and Fireplace Products International (FPI) were
each fined $49,000 for NSPS violations by the EPA enforcement division. In addition, New Buck Stoves was fined
$35,000 and Travis and Sun Spot received very small fines. Click here to view a list of wood stove violations and fines that we believed were issued in the last eight to twelve years.
As part of its
responsibility to enforce the NSPS, the EPA inspects wood stove manufacturers
and levies fines on companies that have not complied with the record keeping
and other requirements. The Alliance for
Green Heat obtained records from the EPA about which companies have been fined.
Most of the
companies were fined for recordkeeping violations. FPI was fined for a labeling violation. Separate from the $49,000 recordkeeping
violation, Vermont Castings was also fined $13,000 for a sealed stove
violation.
Two of the
companies, FPI and England Stove Works, paid part of their violation in cash and
part in stoves. The stoves were provided to a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) to install in low-income
households.
The Clean Air Act provides minimum amounts that the EPA will accept in settlement of
enforcement actions. For example, “use
of incorrect information on a permanent label” can be settled for “$1,000 per
model line and $10 per stove.” Failure to maintain sales records can cost a
company $1,000. Failure to conduct an emission
test quality assurance program is $500 per stove not tested as required. And, if a manufacturer advertises for sale, or
sells a stove without permanent label or certification test, the fee is $3,000
per model line and $30 per stove manufactured. Click here for a copy of the EPA's policies and procedures for fining stove manufacturers.
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