EPA v. BELSON STEEL CENTER SCRAP

Case summary

On January 24, 2008, EPA issued to Belson a Finding of Violation (FOV) pertaining to its scrap metal recycling facility in Bourbonnais, Illinois. The FOV alleged that Belson accepted for recycling automobiles and small appliances such as refrigerators and room air conditioners that contained or once contained ozone-depleting refrigerants, without either recovering the refrigerant from the vehicles and appliances or verifying that the refrigerant had been properly recovered prior to sale to Belson, in violation of regulations found at 40 CFR 82.156. The Consent Decree requires Belson to obtain refrigerant recovery equipment and to properly recover the refrigerant from vehicles and appliances it accepts for scrap recycling at its Bourbonnais facility. Belson's refrigerant recovery program is estimated to recover at least 120 lbs of ozone-depleting refrigerants per year. Since the refrigerants used in vehicle air conditioning systems and small appliances also are 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)

• BELSON STEEL CENTER SCRAPNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• BELSON STEEL AND SCRAP

  1685 N STATE ROUTE 50, BOURBONNAIS, IL, 60914-9303

  Registry ID: 110001346099

Statutes cited

• CAA 608 — National Recycling & Emission Reduction Program

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• BELSON STEEL CENTER SCRAP (SB)entered 2010-04-07

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $54,000

Timeline (6 milestones)

• 2008-05-27Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2008-07-10Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2010-01-28Complaint Filed With Court
• 2010-02-03Final Order Lodged
• 2010-04-07Final Order Entered
• 2011-10-18Enforcement Action Closed