US reopens Harley settlement, cutting funds for pollution reduction plan

Willingness to reopen cases has raised the prospect that other recent settlements could also unravel

Last year the United States government fined Harley-Davidson $15 million for selling devices that shut down its motorcycles’ emissions controls — and said part of that money would go toward a project to reduce pollution from wood-fired stoves.

On Thursday, the Trump administration said Harley-Davidson was no longer required to fund the anti-pollution programme, knocking $3 million off the company’s bill.

The move followed a decision last month by Attorney General Jeff Sessions to halt a longstanding practice under which polluters could be compelled to pay for environmental or community projects, in addition to fines and direct compensation to victims.

To settle claims