Cummins has agreed to pay a record fine of 2 billion dollars for air quality law violations.

The diesel engine manufacturer Cummins recently reached an agreement with the US Department of Justice and the State of California, agreeing to pay a record fine of 2 billion dollars. This agreement, subject to court approval, is related to violations of the Clean Air Act and carries significant consequences for the company.

Cummins is accused of installing illegal defeat devices on over 600,000 Ram trucks. This practice exposed several communities to harmful air pollution across America. The $2 billion civil penalty is the largest ever imposed for a violation of the Clean Air Act.

Deputy Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of the EPA emphasizes the agency’s commitment to holding polluters accountable. This record-breaking sanction aims to ensure that companies pay a high price when they violate environmental laws, highlighting the importance of corporate responsibility in protecting the environment.

The Department of Justice alleges that nearly one million Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups between 2013 and 2023 used undisclosed engine control software functions. Additionally, 630,000 pickups manufactured between 2013 and 2019 were equipped with unlawful emission control defeat device functions.

In addition to paying the fine, Cummins will have to work with Stellantis to recall and repair all affected diesel Ram HD trucks from 2013-2019 at no cost to the owners. Furthermore, the company will have to fully offset the increase in NOx emissions by purchasing 27 new low-emission locomotives and funding 50 projects to reduce idling of diesel locomotives, totaling $325 million.

In a statement, Cummins said that it had not seen any evidence of wrongdoing on anyone’s part and did not admit to engaging in any wrongdoing itself. This response raises questions about the company’s perspective on these allegations and the imposed sanction.