Man sought by EPA in felony air pollution violation

Environmental Protection Agency investigators are looking for a Clark County man who was indicted for a felony violation of the Clean Air Act in January but failed to surrender to federal law enforcement authorities.

Joseph DeMatteo is one of 10 certified vehicle emission testers from Nevada indicted Jan. 6 by a federal grand jury for falsifying emissions test reports in Las Vegas between November 2007 and May 2009, according to a news release issued by the EPA in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.

"EPA is serious about enforcing the nation's environmental laws and making sure that those who are charged with criminal violations are held accountable," said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.

Giles asked for the public to "help EPA achieve its mission" by reporting information on DeMatteo's whereabouts to the EPA's fugitive website or local law enforcement officials.

The EPA accused DeMatteo of "clean scanning" vehicles, which is a scheme that involves entering into a computer data base the identification number of a vehicle that would fail an emissions test but actually performing the test on a different vehicle that would pass.

"The allegedly falsified data was recorded on the vehicle inspection report, and an inspection report passing the vehicle was issued for anywhere from $10 to $100 more than the usual emissions testing fee," according to an EPA news release.

Falsifying test reports is a felony that carries a maximum penalty of up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Emission testing is required in the Las Vegas Valley as part of an effort to reduce levels of harmful levels of ozone and carbon monoxide from vehicle emissions.

Information about EPA fugitives can be submitted to the website www.epa.gov/fugitives.

Contact reporter Keith Rogers at krogers@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0308.