October 08, 2015
By:
Walter G. Wright
Category:
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law
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The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and Roane Metals Group, LLC (“RMG”) entered into an October 1st Consent Agreement and Final Order (“CAFO”) addressing alleged violations of regulations involving the disposal of chlorofluorocarbons (“CFCs”) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (“HCFCs”). Docket No. CAA-04-2016-1574.
RMG operates a scrap metal recycling facility in Rockwood, Tennessee.
EPA previously promulgated regulations addressing the disposal of CFCs and HCFCs from small appliances and motor vehicle air conditioners at 58 Fed. Reg. 28660 (May 14, 1993). These regulations govern recycling and emission reduction and are found in 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F.
The CAFO states that during a 2014 inspection of the facility EPA was informed by RMG that:
- Roane accepts cars, motor vehicle air conditioners (MVACs), white goods, room air conditioning units, and small appliances, including refrigerators and freezers.
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Roane purchases room air conditioning units and small appliances, including refrigerators, from two local recycling facilities; and car, MVACs, and small appliances from peddlers.
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Roane does not verify whether refrigerant was properly recovered from small appliances and room air conditioning units it purchases from the two recycling facilities; and
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Roane does not recover refrigerant but uses signed statements when vehicles, MVACs, room air conditioning units, and small appliances, including refrigerators, are purchased from transactional customers.
RMG is stated to have accepted small appliances and MVACs and/or MVAC-like appliances without either recovering refrigerant or obtaining verification statements that met the requirements of 40 CFR § 82.156(f) for these small appliances and MVACs and/or MVAC-like appliances.
RMG has agreed to a voluntary civil penalty of $37,500.00.
Click here to download a copy of the CAFO.
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