EPA v. MARK PAULE METAL RECYCLING

Case summary

U.S. EPA Region 5 issued an Administrative Consent Order (ACO) to Mark Paule Metal Recycling (MPMR) to resolve violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA). EPA alleged that MPMR 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 MPMR, in violation of regulations found at 40 CFR 82.156. EPA issued a Finding of Violation to MPMR on March 1, 2013. The ACO requires MPMR to obtain refrigerant recovery equipment and to properly recover the refrigerant from appliances it accepts for scrap at its St. Clair County, Illinois facility, or to use verification statements or refrigerant recovery contracts. MPMR'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 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)

• MARK PAULE METAL RECYCLINGNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (2)

• MARK PAULE METAL RECYCLING

  1749 FREEBURG AVENUE, SAINT CLAIR COUNTY, IL, 62220

  Registry ID: 110032949111

• MARK PAULE METAL RECYCLING

  1749 FREEBURG AVENUE, SAINT CLAIR COUNTY, IL, 62220

  Registry ID: 110032949111

Statutes cited

• CAA 608 — National Recycling & Emission Reduction Program

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• MARK PAULE METAL RECYCLINGentered 2014-02-03

  Primary law: CAA

Timeline (2 milestones)

• 2014-02-03Final Order Issued
• 2014-02-06Enforcement Action Data Entered