California Fines Yamaha 2 Million for Air Pollution

California Fines Yamaha 2 Million for Air Pollution

Feb, 2008  - Yamaha Motor Corporation, 
USA, and South Seas Cycle Exchange of Honolulu will pay $2 million to the 
state of California to settle a 2005 lawsuit over the importation of 
motorcycles that failed to meet California emissions standards. 
A portion of this penalty will be used to test emissions from 
ethanol-burning off-road engines. 
The Air Resources Board's long-running investigation, which began in 2002, 
found that Yamaha USA, headquartered in Cypress, California, imported more 
than 400 illegal motorcycles, registered them to Yamaha, USA in 
California, obtained state license plates, and then eventually sold some 
of them to state residents. 
In most cases, these were popular 1999 - 2002 models that were in great 
demand and difficult to purchase in California. One dealer imported more 
than 200 bikes and sold all of them to California residents. 
"This settlement should send a powerful message to those who try and make 
an end run around our air quality regulations," said Air Resources Board 
Chairman Mary Nichols. 
"We have the nation's toughest emissions standards for a reason - because 
too many parts of California still fail to meet federal health levels for 
air quality. These motorcycles could well have contributed to Southern 
California's already fouled air." 

While other dealers involved in the case settled earlier with the Air 
Resources Board, both Yamaha USA and South Seas Cycle Exchange refused to 
settle until recently. 
Under the terms of the agreement, Yamaha USA will pay $1.2 million to the 
California Air Pollution Control Fund, which supports pollution-related 
research. 
The company will also pay $500,000 to fund a project to test the impact of 
ethanol fuel blends on emissions from off-road gasoline engines, and 
$300,000 to the Office of the Attorney General for attorneys' fees. 
In addition to the financial penalties, Yamaha and South Seas Cycle 
Exchange started a vehicle purchase program in December to buy back and 
destroy or remove any motorcycles that have been identified as not having 
been certified for use or registration in California. 
Motorcycles that do not meet California's stringent emission requirements 
create higher amounts of smog-forming pollutants, which can then 
exacerbate respiratory ailments and negatively affect other health 
conditions, said Nichols. 
California motorcycle owners can tell if theirs is an illegal bike if the 
emissions label does not include the word California. If the bike does not 
meet California requirements, the word California will not be on the label 
and the label will say that it meets only federal requirements. 

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