EPA v. RESEARCH ALLOYS COMPANY

Case summary

U.S. EPA Region 5 issued an Administrative Consent Order (ACO) to Research Alloys Company (Research Alloys) to resolve violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA). EPA alleged that Research Alloys accepted for recycling small appliances, such as refrigerators and room air conditioners, 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 Research Alloys, in violation of regulations found at 40 CFR 82.156. The ACO requires Research Alloys to obtain refrigerant recovery equipment and to properly recover the refrigerant from appliances it accepts for scrap recycling at its Columbus, Ohio facility. Research Alloys'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 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)

• RESEARCH ALLOYS COMPANYNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• RESEARCH ALLOYS COMPANY

  799 WEST GOODALE AVENUE, COLUMBUS, OH, 43212

  Registry ID: 110043961594

Statutes cited

• CAA 608 — National Recycling & Emission Reduction Program

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• RESEARCH ALLOYS COMPANYentered 2011-08-08

  Primary law: CAA

Timeline (2 milestones)

• 2011-08-08Final Order Issued
• 2011-09-22Enforcement Action Data Entered