Zach Pilchen formerly served as a legal intern in the Power Plants Litigation Group of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. There, Zach Pilchen assisted trial attorneys on civil litigation matters pertaining to the Clean Air Act.
The Clean Air Act, which was passed by Congress in 1970 and underwent significant revisions in 1977 and 1990, mandates that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establish air quality standards for certain pollutants, including ozone, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide. In turn, states must adopt enforceable air quality state implementation plans (SIP) to meet air quality standards.
In keeping with federal regulations, Texas has its own regulations outlined in the Texas Clean Air Act. In July of 2016, commissioners in Taylor County in Texas voted to file a lawsuit against Volkswagen for violating the Texas Clean Air Act. The county hired Anthony Constant as special counsel for the case. If successful, the car manufacturer could end up paying $9 million in penalties, which will be divided among attorneys, the county, and the state. In 2015, the EPA accused Volkswagen of violating the federal Clean Air Act by installing software in its diesel cars that bypassed, defeated, or rendered inoperative EPA-required emissions controls. This occurred in approximately 500,000 diesel cars manufactured from 2009 through 2015.
The Clean Air Act, which was passed by Congress in 1970 and underwent significant revisions in 1977 and 1990, mandates that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establish air quality standards for certain pollutants, including ozone, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide. In turn, states must adopt enforceable air quality state implementation plans (SIP) to meet air quality standards.
In keeping with federal regulations, Texas has its own regulations outlined in the Texas Clean Air Act. In July of 2016, commissioners in Taylor County in Texas voted to file a lawsuit against Volkswagen for violating the Texas Clean Air Act. The county hired Anthony Constant as special counsel for the case. If successful, the car manufacturer could end up paying $9 million in penalties, which will be divided among attorneys, the county, and the state. In 2015, the EPA accused Volkswagen of violating the federal Clean Air Act by installing software in its diesel cars that bypassed, defeated, or rendered inoperative EPA-required emissions controls. This occurred in approximately 500,000 diesel cars manufactured from 2009 through 2015.