EPA v. RBF FROZEN DESSERTS LLC

Case summary

On August 22,2014, EPA Region I issued a Clean Air Act Scetion 303 emergency order to RBF Frozen Desserts LLC of West Hartford, Connecticut. The company manufactures and stores frozen desserts at it facility in West Hartford, which is co-located in the same building as a restaurant and theater. It is also near homes, schools, and other businesses. The company uses anhydrous ammonia as a refrigerant. After a 2010 ammonia release and a 2013 fire at the facility, the local fire department contacted the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP), which contacted EPA. EPA conducted two inspections on July 14, 2014 and August 14, 2014, the second with an ammonia refrigeration expert. EPA found some very dangerous conditions at the facility. To fix some of these problems requires removal of ammonia from the system. The Clean Air Act Section 303 emergency order will require the facility to remove the ammonia. It also prohibits the facility from adding ammonia back into the system unitl it fixes dangerous conditions. Should the facility be unwilling to remove the ammonia from the system, EPA will use its CERCLA authority to conduct the work itself.

Defendants (1)

• RBF FROZEN FOODS LLCNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• RBF FROZEN DESSERTS

  240 PARK ROAD, WEST HARTFORD, CT, 06119

  Registry ID: 110060347691

Statutes cited

• CAA 112R — General Duty/Accidental Release
• CAA 303 — Imminent/Substantial Endangerment

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• RBF FROZEN DESSERTS LLCentered 2014-08-22

  Primary law: CAA

Timeline (2 milestones)

• 2014-08-22Final Order Issued
• 2014-09-11Enforcement Action Data Entered