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 page features 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.

2008-2007 | 2006-2005 | 2004-2003 | 2002-2001 | 2000-1999 | 1998-1997 | Earlier

August 19, 2008: EPA fines Imperial Toy for selling ozone-depleting novelty confetti string product

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently fined Imperial Toy LLC, located in North Hills, CA, $66,180 for selling "Spray-A-String," which contained R-22, an ozone-depleting substance.

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.

2008-2007 | 2006-2005 | 2004-2003 | 2002-2001 | 2000-1999 | 1998-1997 | Earlier