Enforcement Actions Under Title VI of the Clean Air Act

EPA has issued several regulations under Title VI of the Clean Air Act designed to protect the ozone layer and to provide for a smooth transition away from ozone-depleting substances.

EPA is also charged with enforcing these regulations. This section of the web site will feature information about enforcement actions, ranging from civil fines to criminal prosecutions. The Stratospheric Protection Division doesn't actually enforce the regulations; enforcement is performed within EPA by the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.

1. No information is presented here about ongoing investigations;
2. Even for completed cases, this page represents only the most major cases; and
3. Information comes from a variety of organizations, so it is not always formatted consistently.

If you suspect or witness unlawful releases of refrigerant or other violations of the Clean Air Act regulations, you can file a report easily and anonymously by visiting EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance website.

1999 enforcement actions | 1998 | 1997 | Earlier

July 8, 2008: Bristol-Myers Squibb agrees to Clean Air Act upgrades

Bristol-Myers Squibb, an international pharmaceutical manufacturer, has agreed to reduce the output of ozone-depleting refrigerants at multiple industrial facilities around the country at a combined cost of $3.65 million to resolve violations of the Clean Air Act.

March 18, 2008: EPA reaches agreement with Kerry on clean-air violations

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has reached an agreement with Kerry Inc. on alleged violations of EPA regulations to protect stratospheric ozone at the company's bread crumb manufacturing plant in Millstadt, Ill. The agreement, which includes a $169,822 penalty and an $811,097 environmental project, resolves EPA allegations that Kerry failed to repair refrigeration equipment that leaked excessive amounts of ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs. In addition, EPA said the company violated testing, notification, retrofitting, replacement and retirement planning requirements for the equipment.

November 19, 2007: U.S. EPA Fines Air Conditioning Service Company for the Illegal Import of HCFC-22

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fined JWS Refrigeration & Air Conditioning, Ltd., a Tamuning, Guam refrigeration and heating equipment services company, $53,481 for allegedly importing banned refrigerants in violation of the Clean Air Act. The company allegedly imported 25,402 kg of hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-22 or R-22, an ozone-depleting substance, from sources outside the United States, in violation of the stratospheric ozone protection regulations.

October 10, 2007: U.S. EPA Fines Industrial Bakery for Refrigerant Leak Repair Violations

A baking company in Malden, Mass. has agreed to pay a fine of $50,000 for Clean Air Act Violations and will spend $25,000 to purchase renewable energy credits. Piantedosi Baking Company, a manufacturer of bread products, owns and operates two facilities in Malden, Mass. EPA inspected the two facilities to evaluate the company’s compliance with the federal stratospheric ozone protection regulations. EPA found that Piantedosi had failed to document the type of repairs that were conducted on its refrigeration equipment and failed to document that leak repair verification tests had been performed.

October 1, 2007: U.S. EPA settles with Carrier Guam for $63,922 for illegal importation of ozone-depleting substances

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reached a settlement with Carrier Guam, of Tamuning, a refrigeration and heating equipment services company, for allegedly importing 32,356 kilograms of hydrochlorofluorocarbon refrigerants regulated by the Clean Air Act. A May 2006 inspection by the Guam EPA, in consultation with the U.S. EPA, identified the alleged violations of the stratospheric ozone protection regulations committed by Carrier Guam.

July 10, 2007: Target Corporation to Pay Fine for Violating Clean Air Act

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that Target Corporation will pay a civil penalty of $120,000 for distributing and selling Horrible Spooky String; a children's product containing ozone-depleting substances in violation of the Clean Air Act. EPA had previously ordered five national retail chains to pull from their shelves cans of illegally imported confetti string products that contain banned hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). These substances deplete the earth's protective stratospheric ozone layer and increase the risk of skin cancer. Millions of cans of these novelty items, many imported from other countries and known by various names such as Horrible Spooky String, Zany String, Crazy String, and Party Streamer, etc., have been sold illegally in the United States.

April 5, 2007: Rolls Royce Corporation to Pay a Settlement Over Alleged Industrial Process Refrigeration Leak Repair Violations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached an agreement with Rolls Royce Corp. on alleged clean-air violations at the company's helicopter engine manufacturing plant in Indianapolis, Indiana. The agreement, which includes an $18,329 penalty, resolves EPA allegations that Rolls Royce violated federal regulations to protect the stratospheric ozone layer by failing to follow proper repair and recordkeeping procedures for three pieces of industrial process refrigeration equipment that contained ozone-depleting hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant, R-22.

December 4, 2006: Tween Brands Inc. (formerly known as Too Inc.) to Pay a Settlement of $109,849 Over Alleged Sale of Banned Products Containing Ozone-Depleting Substances

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a settlement with Tween Brands Inc. over allegations that the company sold, or offered to sell, plastic party streamers propelled by ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). The Environmental Protection Agency's stratospheric ozone regulations prohibit the sale, distribution, or offer for sale or distribution into interstate commerce, of certain nonessential products containing CFCs and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).

October 4, 2006: Archer Daniels Midland Co. to Pay a Settlement of $325,000 Over Alleged Refrigerant Leak Repair Violations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a settlement with Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) over allegations that the company's grain processing plant in Decatur, IL violated the Environmental Protection Agency's refrigerant leak repair regulations. EPA alleges that ADM failed to track leaks of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerant from chillers at its industrial process facility.

October 4, 2006: Three Bay Area Auto Repair Shops Pay a Collective $35,000 Over Alleged Clean Air Act Violations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a settlement with three automobile repair shops in California's bay area over allegations that each shop violated the service technician certification requirements of the Clean Air Act. Hayward Ford of Hayward, South City Motors of South San Francisco and Broadway Motors of Oakland failed to employ Section 609 EPA-certified service technicians. To settle these allegations, Hayward Ford has agreed to pay a $10,000 penalty; South City Motors has agreed to pay a $20,000 penalty; and Broadway Motors has agreed to pay a $5,416 penalty.

October 4, 2006: American Greeting Corp. to Pay a Settlement of $84,854 Over Alleged Sale of Banned Products Containing Ozone-Depleting Substances

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a settlement with American Greetings Corp. over allegations that the company sold, or offered to sell, plastic party streamers propelled by ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). The Environmental Protection Agency's stratospheric ozone regulations prohibit the sale, distribution, or offer for sale or distribution in interstate commerce, of certain nonessential products containing CFCs and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).

August 7, 2006: New York City Transit Authority to Pay a Settlement of $165,000 over Alleged Leaks of CFCs

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a settlement with New York Transit Authority over allegations that the upkeep of "Redbird" subway cars violated Environmental Protection Agency stratospheric ozone regulations. The 2004 complaint alleged that on a number of occasions, dating from 1998, the New York Transit Authority failed to maintain service records and repair leaks of the Redbird subway car air-conditioning systems.

May 8, 2006: EPA Reaches Agreement with a National Baking Company to Reduce Emissions of Stratospheric Ozone-Depleting Refrigerants (PDF, 1 pp., 34K, about PDF)

The Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a settlement with Chicago-based Newly Weds Foods, Inc. over allegations that the company violated EPA regulations regarding industrial refrigerant leak repair, testing, recordkeeping and reporting. Newly Weds Foods, Inc. owns and operates facilities in Chicago, IL; Watertown MA; Cleveland, TN; Gerald, MO; Horn Lake, MS; Bethlehem, PA; Springdale, AK; and Modesto, CA. Per the agreement, Newly Weds Foods, Inc. will retrofit or retire all of its 39 industrial refrigeration equipment systems in the United States that are designed to hold more than 50 pounds of HCFC refrigerants with systems that use only nonĀ­ozone-depleting refrigerant substitutes by July 1, 2008. The company will also pay a civil penalty of $125,000 for alleged past violations of the ozone-depleting refrigerant leak repair provisions.

August 4, 2005: New Jersey Businessmen Convicted in Scheme to Evade $1.9 Million in Taxes on the Sales of Ozone-Depleting Substances (PDF, 2 pp., 25K, about PDF)

Dov Shellef and William Rubenstein were convicted of conspiring to evade approximately $1.9 million in excise taxes due on the sales of CFC-113. The importation of the ozone-depleting solvent has been banned under the Clean Air Act since 1996. The IRS imposed an excise tax on the domestic sales of CFCs in an effort to discourage the continued use of chlorofluorocarbons and promote the use of non-ODS substitutes. Shellef and Rubenstein were convicted of multiple counts of wire fraud, tax evasion, subscribing to false tax returns, and money laundering.

May 31, 2005: EPA Reaches Agreement with W.W. Grainger, Inc. over the Sale of Banned Products Containing Ozone-Depleting Substances (PDF, 1 pp., 25K, about PDF)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached an agreement with W.W. Grainger Inc. to settle allegations that the facilities maintenance supply company distributed banned productions made with the ozone-depleting substance, HCFC-141b. EPA assessed a $177,156 penalty for the violations that apply to Grainger's business headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois.

May 2, 2005: EPA Reaches Agreement with DuPont Over Alleged Refrigerant Leak Repair Violations (PDF, 2 pp., 60K, about PDF)

The Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a settlement with Delaware-based DuPont to resolve alleged refrigerant leak repair violations at DuPont's titanium dioxide manufacturing facility in New Johnsonville, Tennessee. DuPont will perform injunctive relief valued at $1.1 million, pay $250,000 in civil penalties, and perform a Supplemental Environmental Project valued at $1.2 million. This settlement will prevent the release of over 20,000 pounds of ozone-depleting refrigerants into the environment each year.

April 22, 2005: EPA Reaches Agreement with Fort James Operating Company Over Alleged Refrigerant Leak Repair Violations

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has reached an agreement with Fort James Operating Co. over alleged violations of EPA refrigerant leak repair regulations at the company's Green Bay, Wisconsin pulp and paper mill. EPA assessed a $14,500 penalty, and Fort James agreed to complete a $43,500 environmental project to convert two refrigeration units at its mill to refrigerants that are less damaging to the stratospheric ozone layer.

April 12, 2005: EPA Reaches Agreement with Strong Steel Products, LLC Over Alleged Appliance Disposal Violations (PDF, 1 pp., 14K, about PDF)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reached an agreement with Strong Steel Products LLC to settle alleged violations of EPA regulations to protect stratospheric ozone at the company's scrap metal processing plant in Detroit, Michigan. Strong Steel has agreed to a $500,000 penalty, and will build an auto processing facility to remove refrigerant from motor vehicle air-conditioners prior to disposal.

February 22, 2005: EPA Fines the University of California for Refrigerant Leak Repair Violations (PDF, 1 pp., 16K, about PDF)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reached a $118,404 settlement with the University of California over violations of the refrigerant leak repair regulations. The civil penalty stems from ozone-depleting refrigerant leak repair violations identified during inspections of U.C.'s Berkeley and Davis campuses in 2002.

February 9, 2005: U.S. reaches agreement with Jewel Food Stores (PDF, 1 pp., 28K, about PDF)

The U.S. Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency reached an agreement with Jewel Food Stores, Inc. of Chicago, Illinois to resolve alleged violations of EPA refrigerant leak repair regulations. Jewel will pay a civil penalty of $100,000 and take steps that will prevent the future release of over 145,000 pounds of ozone-depleting refrigerant. Jewel has agreed to covert 37 of its supermarkets in and around Chicago with systems that use non-ozone-depleting refrigerants. The company also committed to construct all new stores with refrigeration systems that use non-ozone-depleting refrigerants.

August 25, 2004: EPA Reaches Agreement with Abbott Labs on HCFC Leak Repair Violations (PDF, 56K, about PDF)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has reached an agreement with Abbott Laboratories to settle alleged violations of EPA regulations to protect stratospheric ozone at the company's health-care manufacturing plant in North Chicago, Illinois. EPA assessed a $17,903 penalty, and the company agreed to retrofit a number of R-22 industrial process refrigeration and comfort cooling units to use non-ozone depleting alternatives.

May 21, 2004: CFC Smuggler Sentenced to Serve 17 Years in Prison (PDF, 50K, about PDF)

Marc M. Harris was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 204 months imprisonment, to be followed by 3 years supervised release, and a $20,324,560 fine. Mr. Harris was also ordered to pay restitution to the Internal Revenue Service in the amount of $6,588,949.50 for evasion of federal excise taxes on the sale of ozone-depleting refrigerants to customers in South Florida.

January 22, 2004: Wal-Mart to pay $400,000 penalty and cease sales of ozone-depleting refrigerants (PDF, 75K, about PDF)

Wal-Mart has agreed to pay a $400,000 civil penalty and will no longer sell ozone-depleting refrigerants at its Sam's Club stores. EPA regulations restrict the sales of ozone-depleting refrigerants to technicians who are certified to service stationary appliances or motor vehicle air-conditioners. The Complaint alleges that Sam's Club stores in eleven states sold ozone-depleting refrigerants to customers who were not properly certified.

January 21, 2004: U.S. reaches agreement with Dominick's Finer Foods (PDF, 77K, about PDF)

Dominick's Finer Foods, LLC has reached an agreement to resolve alleged violations of federal regulations to protect the stratospheric ozone layer. Under the agreement, Dominick's will pay a civil penalty of $85,000 for alleged past leaks of ozone-depleting refrigerants. In addition, the grocery chain has agreed to actions that will avoid the future release of over 35 tons of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerant.

July 30, 2003: Earthgrains to Pay $5.25 Million Penalty and Phase Out Refrigerants That Damage Ozone Layer (PDF, 286K, about PDF)

The lodging of the consent decree settles violations of Title VI of the Clean Air Act by Earthgrains Baking Companies, Metz Baking Company, Earthgrains Refrigerated Dough Products, L.P., and Coopersmith, Inc. (collectively Earthgrains). Sara Lee Corporation purchased these companies, which were incorporated into the Sara Lee Bakery Group, during the government's investigation. At the time of the purchase, Earthgrains was the second largest bakery company in the nation. The settlement requires Earthgrains to pay a $5.25 million civil penalty for having committed the largest ever corporate-wide violations of stratospheric ozone protection regulations. In addition, Earthgrains must convert all of its industrial process refrigeration appliances to refrigerant systems that do not deplete the ozone layer.

July 10, 2003: HVAC Instructor Sentenced For False Statements Related to Section 608 Technician Exams (PDF, 13K, about PDF)

Louis Molenda was an HVAC/R instructor at Universal Technical Institute in Glendale Heights, IL. He also served as an EPA-Section 608 proctor for Nugent Associates, a New York based EPA-certified testing organization. For a fee of $105, Mr. Molenda guaranteed his students a universal certification card without their having to take the EPA-Section 608 certification exam. On January 30, 2003, a grand jury in the Northern District of Illinois returned an indictment (PDF, 72 K) alleging that Mr. Molenda knowingly and willfully falsified, concealed and covered up by trick, scheme or device material facts within U.S. EPA's jurisdiction. Mr. Molenda later pled guilty to the conduct alleged in the indictment, and was sentenced in U.S. District Court to four months of home confinement and three years of probation.

February 19, 2003: Ganes Chemical of New Jersey Agrees to $303,600 Settlement with U.S. Resolving Industrial Leak Repair Violations (PDF, 63K, about PDF)

The violations at the Ganes Chemicals manufacturing facility in Pennsville concern the company's failure to timely report and repair chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) leaks at its Pennsville plant and to upgrade equipment as needed. The violations also concern the company's failure to keep and provide to the Government documentation on its compliance with federal ozone and CFC emissions standards.

January 21, 2003: Three North Carolina Air Conditioning Repairmen Plead Guilty to Venting Ozone-Depleting Refrigerants (PDF, 44K, about PDF)

Three North Carolina air-conditioning repairmen plead guilty in U.S. District Court to violating the Clean Air Act by knowingly venting ozone-depleting hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) refrigerant, R-22, into the atmosphere. The three employees, of J & J Maintenance of Ft. Bragg, N.C., were responsible for maintaining the residential air conditioning units at Ft. Bragg. When sentenced, each defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000.

January 8, 2003: Kingpin in Ozone depleting CFCs Import Conspiracy Sentenced to 6½ Years in Prision (PDF, 90K, about PDF)

The lead defendant in a complex multi-year, multi-million dollar conspiracy to import and sell ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) by false pretenses was sentenced to a term of six and one-half years in prison. The defendant was also ordered to pay $1.8 million in restitution, as well as a fine of $12,500. The co-conspirator was sentenced to a term of four years in prison, and was ordered to pay $1.2 million in restitution.

November 1, 2002: Transportation Management Services, Inc. (TMSI) pays $45,601 penalty as a result of motor vehicle servicing violations of the Clean Air Act (PDF, 6K, about PDF)

Transportation Management Services, Inc. (TMSI) signed a Consent Agreement settling refrigerant venting violations of the Stratospheric Ozone Protection" requirements of the Clean Air Act. Under the terms of settlement, TMSI, which services eighteen-wheel trucks at its facility in Henderson, Colorado, will pay a civil penalty of $45,601 and will not maintain, service, or repair any motor vehicle air conditioners ("MVACs") in the future.

October 29, 2002: Allied Waste Systems, Inc. agrees to $3 million enforcement settlement concerning appliance disposal violations of the Clean Air Act.

ALLIED WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. ("Allied") of Boston has entered into a settlement agreement which resolves the government's claims that ALLIED violated the Clean Air Act by disposing of discarded appliances without either recovering any remaining refrigerant from the appliances or verifying that the refrigerant was previously recovered from the appliances. The proposed Consent Decree requires the company to pay a $782,550 civil penalty and spend $2.3 million on an environmental project that will improve Boston's air quality at ALLIED's Howard Transfer Station in Roxbury.

April 5, 2002: CFC Smuggler Pleads Guilty; Two Others Sentenced

Donald W. Pigeon of Pompano Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty on March 27 to violating the Clean Air Act by illegally importing approximately 300 cylinders of CFC-12 into the United States. In addition, Patrick Palmer and Chester Risker, also of Pompano Beach, were sentenced for their role in this case on March 28. The case was investigated by EPA's Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Customs Service and the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.

March 29, 2002: Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to CFC Smuggling

James M. Dolmetsch has pleaded guilty to conspiracy with at least three other individuals to smuggle the CFC-12 into the U.S. from Canada in 1996. Dolmetsch admitted to brokering the sale of the smuggled refrigerant to purchasers in the U.S. He also admitted that the conspiracy successfully smuggled and resold 63,600 lbs. of CFC-12 into the U.S.

March 6, 2002: CFC Smugglers Plead Guilty

Barry Himes, John Mucha and Richard Pelletier pled guilty today to conspiring to smuggle CFCs into the U.S. by means of false statements to U.S. Customs and the EPA, and to defrauding the IRS in its attempts to collect excise and income taxes on proceeds from the sale of the contraband. The three individuals attempted to import over 660 tons of CFCs.Accompanying the guilty pleas were agreements to civilly forfeit a $2 million mansion on the Connecticut River, a three-carat diamond ring, and two luxury BMW automobiles, all of which were purchased from the smuggling proceeds. A total of ten individuals have pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection with this investigation. Nationwide to date, 114 individuals have been convicted in illegal CFC import schemes and over 56 years of imprisonment and $67 million in fines and restitution have been imposed.

February 11, 2002: Compliance Incentive Offered to Bakeries

EPA is currently inviting baking companies to participate in a voluntary compliance incentive program intended to reduce environmental and public health threats to the ozone layer. EPA investigations suggest that some large commercial bakeries are leaking CFCs and HCFCs in amounts greater than allowed under the Clean Air Act. Companies must notify EPA by April 26 of their intent to participate in this voluntary program and identify the number of appliances to be audited thereafter. .
The text of the Federal Register notice is available on-line. Additional information on the Bakery Partnership Program, as well as other compliance resources, are available from OECA.

January 25, 2002: Florida Men Plead Guilty to Illegal CFC Import

Patrick Palmer and Chester Risker of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., pleaded guilty to violating the Clean Air Act by illegally importing from the Bahamas approximately 300 cylinders of CFC-12. When sentenced each defendant faces a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000.

January 11, 2002: ATOFINA Resolves Violations in Alabama, Kentucky, Texas

ATOFINA Chemicals Inc. of Philadelphia, Pa., has entered into a settlement that will result in significant pollution control measures at the company's facilities in Alabama, Kentucky and Texas. At an estimated capital cost of $5.3 million, ATOFINA has committed to implementing pollution control measures that will reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions by approximately 2,500 tons per year and ozone-depleting substances (ODS) emissions by 750 tons per year from its facilities in Kentucky and Alabama.

January 4, 2002: Florida Importer Pleads Guilty to Clean Air Act Violation

Clifford Windsor of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, pleaded guilty on December19, 2001 to violating the Clean Air Act by illegally importing into the United States approximately 300 cylinders of CFC-12. Some of this contraband was then sold to businesses. When sentenced, Windsor faces a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000.

September 27, 2001: EPA Fines Manufacturer of Refrigerant Recovery and Recycling Equipment $20,000 (PDF, 12K, about PDF)

Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has reached an agreement with Ritchie Engineering Co. Inc. on alleged violations of Federal Clean Air Act regulations at the company's plant in Garrett, Ind. A $20,000 penalty was assessed. The agreement resolves an administrative complaint filed in September 2000 alleging that Ritchie made and distributed its model R60 refrigerant recovery unit without proper labeling. The company also failed to comply with an EPA administrative order issued Jan. 13, 2000, telling it to comply with labeling requirements.

July 31, 2001: 5 Charged in Multi-Million Dollar Scheme to Illegally Import Ozone-Depleting Substances into the U.S.

A federal grand jury in New Haven, Conn. returned an indictment charging five men for allegedly engaging in a scheme to trade in CFCs. The men are charged with several felonies related to the importation and sale of hundreds of tons of CFCs from 1995 to 1998, including conspiracy to make false statements to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Customs Service; conspiracy to defraud the IRS; filing false tax returns; money laundering; and conspiracy to obstruct a federal grand jury.

June 21, 2001: Air Liquide Agrees to Settlement with U.S. Resolving Environmental Violations in 18 States

In a groundbreaking Clean Air Act settlement, Air Liquide agreed to replace ozone-depleting refrigerants with environmentally friendly alternatives in 22 different facilities across the U.S.

September 11, 2000: Meyer's Bakery Agrees to Settlement with U.S. Resolving Environmental Violations (PDF, 89K)

The United States has reached an agreement with Meyer's Bakery, headquartered in Little Rock, Ark., to settle outstanding claims for violations of the Clean Air Act regarding the protection of the
stratospheric ozone for $3.5 million in penalties.

May 18, 2000: Colorado Man Sentenced for CFC Smuggling

On May 12, Kenneth L. McManus of Denver, Colo., was sentenced to nine months in prison and three years of supervised release for violating the Clean Air Act. McManus, who formerly operated an air conditioning business in Denver, previously admitted that he imported over one ton of R-12 refrigerant into the United States without the required import allowances.

March 3, 2000: EPA Cites Two Detroit Metal Recyclers for Clean-Air Violations (PDF, 2.2MB)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 has recently cited two Detroit metal recyclers for alleged violations of Federal clean-air regulations at their scrap yards. They are R&F Metals Co., Inc., 9101 West Fort St., and Consumers Recycling, Inc., 7777 West Chicago Ave. EPA said the companies improperly disposed of appliances containing ozone-depleting refrigerants. In July 1999, EPA inspectors observed both companies disposing of appliances without verifying that the appliances no longer contained ozone-depleting refrigerants.

1999 enforcement actions | 1998 | 1997 | Earlier