K 2 Motor Corp., dba Spec-D Tuning, Settlement
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K 2 Motor Corp., dba Spec-D Tuning, Settles for $88,696
In September 2021, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) reached a settlement with K 2 Motor Corp., dba Spec-D Tuning (K 2 Motor), for emissions violations related to the sale of non-exempted aftermarket vehicle parts in California. K 2 Motor, located in City of Industry, California, manufactures and sells aftermarket vehicle parts under the brand name Spec-D Tuning.
CARB investigative staff discovered that K 2 Motor advertised, sold, and offered for sale, aftermarket intake systems and exhaust headers without legal exemptions to California’s anti-tampering laws. Such parts replace or modify critical original equipment manufacturer (OEM) emissions control system components and OEM specified engine-operating conditions, and thus must be evaluated by CARB to demonstrate the vehicle’s continued emissions compliance in order to receive legal exemption. This conduct was in violation of California Vehicle Code (CVC) section 27156 (CVC § 27156) and California Code of Regulations (CCR), title 13, section 2220 et seq. (13 CCR § 2220 et seq.).
The resulting settlement requires the company to pay a total penalty of $88,696, which takes into consideration the company’s proof of financial hardship. Of the total amount, $44,348 will fund a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) entitled SEI Air Quality Education Program - San Diego. The SEP benefits middle school and high school students by providing them with air quality education kits to measure local air pollution levels. With these kits, the students learn about the impact of air pollution on human health and the environment, and learn ways to create solutions to reduce air pollution sources. The remaining penalty amount of $44,348 will be deposited into CARB’s Air Pollution Control Fund, which provides funding for projects and research to improve California's air quality.
CARB’s settlement was the result of a collaborative effort with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). USEPA concurrently reached a settlement on September 21, 2021, with K 2 Motor for Clean Air Act violations which resulted in a separate penalty of $152,160.
K 2 Motor has agreed to not install, sell, offer for sale, or advertise in California, any aftermarket part in violation of CVC § 27156 and 13 CCR § 2220 et seq. K 2 Motor fully cooperated with CARB to resolve this matter.