Federal officials have seized and prevented more than 11,000 pieces of illegal gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles and equipment from being imported into the United States during the past nine months, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The EPA and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency cooperated on intercepting substandard equipment -- including tractors, lawn and garden equipment, off-road motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and electric generators -- that they said pose a risk to public health and the environment.

The federal Clean Air Act requires new gasoline and diesel engines sold or distributed in the United States to meet EPA emission requirements. There has been a recent and dramatic increase in imports of equipment, chiefly from China, which do not meet these standards, according to the EPA.

The EPA said it has assessed nearly $800,000 in civil penalties against the importers, in addition to U.S. Customs penalties and storage fees.

The EPA advises prospective purchasers to look for an emissions label before buying engines and equipment to be certain it meets emission standards.

Entire contents copyright 2005 by Crain Communications Inc. All rights reserved.