EPA v. LEBANON SCRAP METALS (COE ACO)

Case summary

U.S. EPA Region 5 issued an Administrative Consent Order (ACO) to Lebanon Scrap Metals (Lebanon) to resolve violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA). EPA alleged that Lebanon accepted for recycling small appliances, such as refrigerators and room air conditioners, and motor vehicle air conditioners (MVACs) that contained or once contained ozone-depleting refrigerants, without either recovering the refrigerant from the appliances or verifying that the refrigerant had been properly recovered prior to sale to Lebanon, in violation of regulations found at 40 CFR 82.156. EPA issued a Finding of Violation to Lebanon on September 15, 2014. The ACO requires Lebanon to obtain refrigerant recovery equipment and to properly recover the refrigerant from small appliances and MVACs it accepts for scrap at its Lebanon, Tennessee facility, or to use verification statements or refrigerant recovery contracts. Lebanon's refrigerant recovery program is estimated to recover a minimum of 120 lbs of ozone-depleting refrigerants per year. Since the refrigerants used in small appliances and MVACs are also potent global-warming gases, these resolutions will, in addition to protecting the ozone layer, have the added benefit of reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases equivalent to removing approximately 60 SUVs from the road for a year.

Defendants (1)

• LEBANON SCRAP METALS (COE ACO)Named in settlement

Facilities (1)

• LEBANON SCRAP METALS

  790 CAINSVILLE ROAD, LEBANON, TN, 37087

  Registry ID: 110061063557

Statutes cited

• CAA 608 — National Recycling & Emission Reduction Program

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• LEBANON SCRAP METALS (COE ACO)entered 2015-04-24

  Primary law: CAA

Timeline (2 milestones)

• 2015-04-24Final Order Issued
• 2015-06-02Enforcement Action Data Entered