The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a se
ttlement with manufacturer Eakas Corp. for alleged Clean Air Act emissions violations at the company’s facility in Peru, Illinois. The company will pay $520,200 in penalties.
Eakas produces various plastic and metal parts for the automotive
industry. EPA alleges that the facility exceeded volatile organic compound emission limits from the paint lines used
to coat materials for
protective or decorative purposes. EPA also alleges Eakas failed to
comply with recordkeeping requirements. In addition to the monetary penalty, the company will install a new V
OC emission control device and repair an exist
ing VOC emission control device to reduce emissions.
When VOCs evaporate in the atmosphere, they can combine with
other gasses to create ground-level ozone. Exposure to ground-level ozone can lead to respirato
ry problems and can aggravate conditions such as asthma or cause reduced lung function.
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Navitas Systems, LLC, an Ann Arbor, Michigan battery manufa
cturer, will pay $95,000 and furnish other relief to resolve a disability discrimination lawsuit filed b
y the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced.
According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, Navitas maintained a policy which required any employee returning from m
edical leave to be 100% free from restrictions. An employee suffered severe injuries to his left arm; his doctor tempor
arily restricted him from using his left arm but cleared him to return to work using his other arm. The employ
ctions of his position using only one arm, but Navitas applied its policy, refused to allow him to return to work and fired him.
Such alleged conduct violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits employment discr
imination based on disability. The EEOC filed suit (Case No. 2:24-cv-12478 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan) after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process.