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Friday, November 13, 2026Nov 13

Around the Region: VW may not meet April deadline over diesel fix

Chattanooga VW workers assemble Volkswagen Passat sedans at the German automaker's plant in this June 12, 2013, photo. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig)
Chattanooga VW workers assemble Volkswagen Passat sedans at the German automaker's plant in this June 12, 2013, photo. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig)

The top U.S. environmental official has expressed uncertainty about whether the Obama administration and Volkswagen AG will meet an April 21 court deadline to come up with a plan to address excess emissions from 580,000 diesel vehicles sold in the country, according to Reuters.

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy told reporters that the two sides were in “really robust” ongoing talks but said she did not know if they would agree to a deal by April 21. She declined to say if the administration would accept a partial fix of the polluting vehicles or if it would insist that Volkswagen offer to buy them all back.

Last month, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer gave VW and U.S. regulators until April 21 to offer a “concrete proposal” for addressing the polluting cars. Both sides must “resolve” what is to happen to the cars by that date, Breyer said.

TVA study backs ash dewatering facility

The Tennessee Valley Authority is taking another step to change the way ash and coal products are stored at Kingston Fossil Plant with the addition of a bottom ash dewatering facility.