National Enforcement and Compliance Initiative: Multi-Media Border Security

Through the Multi-Media Border Security National Enforcement and Compliance Initiative (NECI), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will vigilantly protect the border to stop illegal imports of hazardous materials, counterfeit products, and environmentally damaging substances from entering our country. These illegal imports poison our communities, undermine domestic businesses and consumer trust. By securing our borders against such threats, we protect human health and the environment alongside upholding the integrity of our markets. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, EPA’s work under this NECI focused on stopping the illegal import of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). 

Goals

Through compliance assurance actions, prevent the unauthorized unlawful import and sale of HFCs to public health, the environment, and American jobs.

Ensure capacity and expertise are developed across EPA to maintain robust compliance assurance and enforcement efforts.

FY 2025 Results

HFC Compliance Monitoring Activities

In FY 2025, EPA inspected key ports across the nation to stop the illegal import of HFCs. EPA conducted 106 compliance monitoring activities under this initiative. These compliance monitoring activities addressed potential violations of the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act of 2020, a statute not delegated to the states. The AIM Act mandates the phasedown of HFCs by 85 percent by 2036.

HFC Enforcement Cases

In FY 2025, the agency concluded seven civil cases resolving violations related to the illegal import of HFCs and charged six individuals in criminal cases for alleged smuggling of HFCs.

HFC Training and Capacity Building

In FY 2025, EPA’s civil and criminal programs trained over 900 federal law enforcement personnel on the AIM Act and investigative methods to identify and investigate smuggled shipments of HFCs. These training events occurred both in person and virtually at 43 ports of entry and in meetings nationwide.