Pep Boys to pay $5 million to resolve Clean Air Act violations claims

Washington, D.C. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Justice Department announced late Monday that The Pep Boys -- Manny, Moe & Jack -- will pay $5 million in civil penalties and take corrective measures to settle claims that it violated the Clean Air Act by importing and selling motorcycles, recreational vehicles and generators manufactured in China that do not comply with environmental requirements.

Baja, which supplied the non-compliant vehicles to Pep Boys, is also settling with the United States.

"Under this settlement Pep Boys and Baja will not only pay a civil penalty, but will offset the excess emissions from the vehicles and engines already sold and take steps that go beyond what the law requires to ensure that their future imports and sales meet Clean Air Act standards," said Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division.

This is the largest vehicle and engine importation case brought by the United States to date under the Clean Air Act.

The complaint alleges that Pep Boys and Baja imported and sold at least 241,000 illegal vehicles and engines from 2004 through 2009.