Volkswagen Mitigation Trust

Status of Arkansas Volkswagen Settlement Programs

On June 24, 2022, DEQ submitted an amended Beneficiary Mitigation Plan to the Trustee that supersedes earlier submissions in June 2018, June 2019, and November 2019. This plan describes four new programs that DEQ intends to implement to reduce emissions using funding from the Volkswagen Settlement. These programs include an alternative fuel bus program (ABC Transportation Program), an alternative fuels funding assistance program for repower/replacement of heavy-duty and medium-duty diesel local freight and drayage trucks and diesel buses (Clean Fuels Program), a rebate for light duty electric vehicle charging infrastructure (EVSE Program), and a funding assistance program for Arkansas state agencies (SAFER) to repower/replace medium and heavy-duty diesel local freight and drayage trucks and diesel buses. This plan also reserves a small portion of settlement funds to supplement DEQ’s Go RED! program.

Individual Program Status


ABC Transportation Program

  • Contact – Katrina Jones, 501-683-6267

  • The ABC program has been updated and applications were accepted through October 31, 2022.
  • ABC Transportation Program Certification and Project Management Plan submitted to the Trustee August 10, 2022.

Clean Fuels Program


DERA Program


SAFER


Background of Volkswagen Settlement

Arkansas has been allocated $14,647,709.09 to be used toward projects that reduce emissions from motor vehicles as a result of two partial consent decrees in a case filed against Volkswagen for alleged violations of the federal Clean Air Act by the sale of approximately 500,000 model year 2009 – 2015 2.0 liter (L) diesel engine vehicles and approximately 80,000 model year 2009 – 2016 3.0 (L) diesel engine vehicles equipped with emissions control defeat devices.

The air quality in Arkansas is among the best in the nation, and these settlement funds provide an additional opportunity for Arkansas to realize further improvement in air quality with respect to nitrogen oxides (NOx), ozone, and fine particulate matter. This funding can be leveraged to help state and local agencies, schools, and organizations replace aging high-emitting vehicles and equipment with newer, cleaner vehicles and equipment.

Legal Proceedings

In September 2015, EPA alleged that Volkswagen had installed software that renders certain emission controls inoperable in turbocharged direct injection (TDI) diesel Volkswagen and Audi vehicles. These defeat devices resulted in up to 40 percent higher nitrogen oxide emissions during normal driving.

In January 2016, the United States and the State of California filed a lawsuit against Volkswagen alleging that the manufacture and sale of diesel cars with systems intended to defeat emissions tests were in violation of section 203 of the Clean Air Act.

On October 18, 2016, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California held a hearing on the partial consent decree including amendments made in response to public comment. On October 25, 2016, the court granted the motion to enter into the amended partial consent decree. The approved partial consent decree consists of three major parts:

  • Volkswagen will buy back, terminate leases, or provide approved emissions modifications for subject 2.0 L TDI diesel vehicles.
  • Volkswagen will invest $2 billion over ten years in projects that increase the use of zero emission vehicles.
  • Volkswagen will pay $2.7 billion to an Environmental Mitigation Trust to fund projects to reduce emissions of NOx. Arkansas’s initial allocation under the first partial consent decree is $13,951,016.23.

On December 20, 2016, a second partial consent decree addressing 3.0 L subject vehicles was proposed. Notice of the second consent decree was published in the Federal Register on December 29, 2016, opening a thirty day comment period. On February 2, 2017, the comment period was extended to February 14, 2017. The proposed partial consent decree consists of two major parts:

  • Volkswagen will buy back, terminate leases, or provide approved emission modifications for subject 3.0 L vehicles.
  • Volkswagen will be required to pay an additional $225,000,000 to the Environmental Mitigation Trust. Arkansas’s initial allocation under the second partial consent decree is $696,692.86.

On January 11, 2017, a third partial consent decree was proposed to address Volkswagen’s liability under the Clean Air Act for civil penalties and injunctive relief to prevent similar future violations. Notice of the third consent decree was published in the Federal Register on January 24, 2017, beginning a thirty-day public comment period that closed on February 23, 2017.