In the fallout from the revelation that Volkswagen was designing its diesel-powered vehicles to cheat during emission tests, the car company faced a monumental task: Take back or repair nearly a half million vehicles, pay EPA fines and also fix the problem in other countries. The stakes were high when U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer held a hearing Thursday to approve or deny Volkswagen’s proposed settlement. If VW didn’t offer a settlement by that date, Judge Breyer had the power to schedule the first steps in a trial over the scandal. However, the EPA, California’s ecofascists, owners of the VW cars and the company itself walked away from the hearing with a settlement.

Judge Breyer issued a gag order over the details of the settlement but some were leaked before the hearing. Volkswagen, according to the source talking to the Associated Press, was planning to pay American consumers $3 billion, with each consumer getting $5,000 each. VW was also considering repairing some cars and buying others back. According to Judge Breyer, Volkswagen also agreed to pour money into green vehicles. And while the company cheated and lied, promising consumers that they were purchasing green vehicles that secretly weren’t so green, the EPA has been playing a hypocritical game. The regulatory agency estimates 60 people died because of the emissions Volkswagen cars gave off. Meanwhile, its ethanol mandate has lead to the premature death of 245 individuals thanks to the emissions it generated. Where’s the payout for anyone who’s had to pump that stuff into his or her car’s tank?