WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — Harley-Davidson Inc., Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group LLC, Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Company Inc. and Harley-Davidson Motor Company Operations Inc. (collectively Harley-Davidson) have agreed to settle allegations of Clean Air Act violations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) have announced.
According to EPA, Harley-Davidson was selling illegal devices that increase air pollution from their motorcycles. To settle the charges, the company agreed to buy back and destroy these devices, only sell models of these devices in the future if they meet Clean Air Act emission standards, and pay a $12 million civil penalty. Additionally, Harley-Davidson agreed to spend $3 million on a local community project that should help mitigate air pollution.
“Given Harley-Davidson’s prominence in the industry, this is a very significant step toward our goal of stopping the sale of illegal aftermarket defeat devices that cause harmful pollution on our roads and in our communities,” said assistant attorney general John C. Cruden, head of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Anyone else who manufactures, sells or installs these types of illegal products should take heed of Harley-Davidson’s corrective actions and immediately stop violating the law.”