EPA v. NORTHERN METALS LLC (3 facilities) - APO/CAFO

Case summary

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Northern Metals LLC (Northern Metals) reached a settlement requiring Northern Metals to take steps to ensure proper recovery of refrigerant from small appliances delivered to three of its facilities, located in Minneapolis, Maple Grove, and St. Paul, Minnesota. The changes will help protect the environment and public health in the surrounding area by reducing air emissions of ozone-depleting substances. The company has also agreed to pay a $300,000 civil penalty to resolve its alleged violations of the Clean Air Act. EPA issued a Finding of Violation to Northern Metals on September 30, 2020 alleging that at the three facilities, Northern Metals accepted for recycling small appliances such as refrigerators and room air conditioners that contained or once contained ozone-depleting and substitute refrigerants without either recovering the refrigerant from the items or verifying that the refrigerant had been properly recovered prior to delivery to Northern Metals, in violation of regulations found at 40 CFR 82.155. EPA has now filed a Consent Agreement and Final Order (CAFO) and entered into an Administrative Consent Order (ACO) with Northern Metals to resolve these alleged CAA violations. The CAFO requires Northern Metals to pay a $300,000 penalty to the federal government.

Defendants (1)

• NORTHERN METALS LLCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (3)

• EMR NORTHERN METALS - SCRAPPY'S EXPRESS

  1803 2ND ST N, MINNEAPOLIS, MN, 55411-3409

  Registry ID: 110070551346

• NORTHERN METAL RECYCLING ST. PAUL

  521 BARGE CHANNEL RD, SAINT PAUL, MN, 55107

  Registry ID: 110061982387

• NORTHERN METAL RECYCLING - MAPLE GROVE

  9025 ZACHARY LN N, MAPLE GROVE, MN, 55369

  Registry ID: 110069035948

Statutes cited

• CAA 608 — National Recycling & Emission Reduction Program

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• NORTHERN METALS LLC (3 facilities) - APO/CAFOentered 2022-11-22

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $300,000

Timeline (5 milestones)

• 2022-11-22Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2022-11-22Final Order Issued
• 2022-11-30Enforcement Action Closed
• 2022-11-30Air Resolved
• 2022-12-07Enforcement Action Data Entered