EPA v. AZCON SCRAP CORPORATION

Case summary

U.S. EPA Region 5 issued an Administrative Consent Order (ACO) to Azcon Metals (Azcon) to resolve violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA). EPA alleged that Azcon 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 Azcon, in violation of regulations found at 40 CFR 82.156. EPA issued a Finding of Violation to Azcon on March 8, 2013. The ACO requires Azcon to obtain refrigerant recovery equipment and to properly recover the refrigerant from appliances it accepts for scrap recycling at its Alton, Illinois facility. Azcon'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)

• AZCON SCRAP CORPORATIONNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• AZCON SCRAP CORPORATION

  CHESSEN LN BOX 616, ALTON, IL, 62002

  Registry ID: 110018422857

Statutes cited

• CAA 608 — National Recycling & Emission Reduction Program

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• AZCON SCRAP CORPORATIONentered 2014-04-10

  Primary law: CAA

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 2014-04-10Final Order Issued
• 2014-05-21Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2015-04-10Air Resolved