In September 2015, Volkswagen admitted that it installed emissions control defeat devices on approximately 500,000 VW/Porsche/Audi 2.0 liter diesel engines and an additional 90,000 3.0 liter diesel engines. These devices were allowed up to 40 times the legal limit of NOx emissions to be emitted from these vehicles.
In October 2016, a settlement was reached between multiple stakeholders in a lawsuit against Volkswagen. At this time, the First Partial Consent Decree for 2.0-liter vehicles was released. As part of that decree, a trustee was required to be appointed to oversee the mitigation process. The decree also required Wyoming to develop a mitigation plan in order to qualify for potential funding from this mitigation trust fund.
In 2018, the State of Wyoming submitted a mitigation plan to the settlement trustee summarizing the state’s plan to utilize the mitigation funds.
The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) was selected as the lead agency on behalf of the state to oversee the mitigation plan and allocation of funds under the settlement.
The consent decree outlines specific details of how trust funds may be used. Money from the settlement may be used to pay some or all of the cost to repower or replace eligible diesel-powered vehicles with new cleaner diesel, alternative fueled, or all-electric engines.
Currently, DEQ has obligated or spent over $5M from the settlement and is working to release new grant opportunities later this year for the remaining amount.
For more information please contact:
Keith Guille
Outreach Program Manager
307-777-6105