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Auto and Scrap Recyclers agrees to EPA order to comply with Clean Air Act

Release Date: 08/13/2009
Contact Information: William Omohundro, 312-353-8254, omohundro.william@epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 09-OPA157


(Chicago - Aug. 13, 2009) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has issued an administrative consent order to Auto and Scrap Recyclers to comply with EPA regulations designed to protect the stratospheric ozone layer at the company's scrap metal recycling facility at 3800 W. Mill Road, Milwaukee, Wis.

EPA cited Auto and Scrap last December for alleged violations of EPA regulations requiring recovery of ozone-depleting refrigerants from small appliances before they are recycled. The allegations resulted from an EPA inspection of the facility in July 2008 and a subsequent request for information last October.

Auto and Scrap agreed, among other things, to recover, or verify recovery, of refrigerant from small appliances and to stop accepting small appliances with cut or dismantled refrigerant lines. The order became effective Aug. 3.

Chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants and certain substitute refrigerants deplete the stratospheric, or "good" ozone layer, allowing dangerous amounts of cancer-causing ultraviolet rays from the sun to strike the earth. Production of some of these chemicals was stopped in 1995, and federal law strictly controls their use and handling.

Information about EPA Region 5's air enforcement program is at https://www.epa.gov/region5/air/enforce/index.html. Potential environmental violations may be reported at https://www.epa.gov/compliance/complaints.