March 8, 2002—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it has reached a $100,000 settlement with the former owners of the Airport Inn and Suites to resolve charges that hotel employees allegedly violated Clean Air Act (CAA) rules covering stratospheric ozone protection.
The violations, which EPA contends occurred in August 2000, involved the removal of 20 room air conditioner units and seven small refrigerators from the hotel. EPA issued a complaint in June 2001, that alleged when hotel employees removed the equipment, they cut the refrigerant lines on the appliances venting ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) into the air.
EPA issued a complaint alleging 27 violations of the CAA against Lightfoot’s Inc. (the hotel owner at the time of the incident) EPA’s charges against the company included:
- illegal releases of ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) into the air,
- improper disposal of appliances,
- failure to capture the CFC refrigerant from the appliances using certified CFC recovery/recycling equipment, and
- failure to use an EPA certified technician to remove the refrigerant.
“Many substitute coolants are available for refrigeration equipment that previously needed CFC coolants to operate,” noted EPA’s Regional Enforcement Director Carol Rushin. “Additionally, appropriate removal and disposal of coolants containing CFCs is much better for the ozone layer—which we all need to survive—and much less costly for an individual or business than the consequences of getting caught violating the law.”
Had Airport Inn and Suites contracted to properly remove the refrigerant prior to disposal of the units the costs to the hotel operators would have been about $1,350 or $50 per unit.
EPA routinely conducts unannounced inspections at facilities where the service or repair of air conditioning systems are subject to the CFC regulations. Some of these businesses operate from residential homes, which EPA inspects as well. Businesses and individuals who knowingly vent, or disperse CFC-containing appliances will face significant monetary penalties from EPA lawsuits.
Since 1993, the CAA has banned the release of refrigerants containing CFCs during the service, maintenance and disposal of air conditioning and refrigeration equipment. Prior to disposal, the refrigerant must be removed from the appliance by EPA certified technicians using approved CFC recovery/recycling equipment.
