EPA v. METROMETALS NORTHWEST, INC. (ALL RECYCLING) - ACO

Case summary

On December 20, 2022, EPA issued an FOV to MetroMetals Northwest, Inc. MetroMetals Northwest, Inc. failed to verify, using a signed statement or contract, that all refrigerant that had not leaked previously had been recovered from the appliance or shipment of appliance, in violation of the regulations for the Protection of Stratospheric Ozone at 40 C.F.R. Part 82, Subpart F. A CAFO will be filed concurrently with this ACO. This Administrative Consent Order (ACO) for MetroMetals Northwest, Inc. requires MetroMetals Northwest, Inc. to comply with the following at its six scrapyard facilities (Englewood, Colorado; Denver, Colorado; Brighton, Colorado; Tacoma, Washington; Vancouver, Washington; and Portland, Oregon) to address the violations set forth in the FOV: 1. MMNW must only accept small appliances, MVACs, or MVAC-like appliances provided MMNW either uses appropriate refrigerant recovery equipment to recover any remaining refrigerant from items with intact refrigerant lines in accordance with 40 C.F.R. ? 82.155(a) or certifies that the refrigerant was properly recovered prior to delivery to MMNW; 2. MMNW must have refrigerant recovered by only a properly trained individual. MMNW must ensure that any employee or contractor recovering refrigerant use, and is properly trained to use, appropriate refrigerant recovery equipment; 3. MMNW must keep a copy of all signed verification statements or contracts obtained as a requirement of 40 C.F.R. ? 82.155(b)(2) for three years; 4. MMNW must notify its suppliers in writing that it will not accept small appliances, MVACs, or MVAC-like appliances with cut or dismantled refrigerant lines, unless the supplier can certify that the refrigerant was properly recovered; 5. MMNW must ensure that its website properly reflects the requirements of 40 C.F.R. ? 82.155; 6. MMNW must document the number of small appliances, MVACs, or MVAC-like appliances it rejects, the date the small appliance, MVAC, or MVAC-like appliance was rejected, and the reason for rejecting the item(s); 7. MMNW must keep a log of every small appliance, MVAC, or MVAC-like appliance accepted at the facility where it was determined that the item?s refrigerant ?leaked out? in accordance with 40 C.F.R. ? 82.155(b)(2)(iii); and 8. MMNW must develop and follow a written refrigerant management plan that incorporates the provisions of the ACO. MMNW must provide training on the refrigerant management plan to all employees and must make the plan available to employees and contractors that play any role in the contracting, purchasing, accepting, handling, or processing of small appliances, MVACs, or MVAC-like appliances.

Defendants (1)

• ALL RECYCLINGNamed in settlement

Facilities (7)

• ALL RECYCLING NORTH, LLC

  5350 WASHINGTON ST, NORTH WASHINGTON, CO, 80216

  Registry ID: 110013817557

• ALL RECYCLING NORTH, LLC

  5350 WASHINGTON ST, NORTH WASHINGTON, CO, 80216

  Registry ID: 110013817557

• ALL RECYCLING - 1775 W WESLEY AVE

  1775 W WESLEY AVE, ENGLEWOOD, CO, 80110

  Registry ID: 110071498846

• METRO METALS NORTHWEST

  5611 NE COLUMBIA BLVD, PORTLAND, OR, 97218

  Registry ID: 110001658741

• PACIFIC COAST SHREDDING (METROMETALS)

  901 PORT WAY, VANCOUVER, WA, 98660

  Registry ID: 110000827525

• ALL RECYCLING BRIGHTON (METROMETALS)

  987 HWY 85, BRIGHTON, CO, 80603

  Registry ID: 110071813335

• METRO METALS NORTHWEST

  2202 E RIVER ST, TACOMA, WA, 984211595

  Registry ID: 110000828418

Statutes cited

• CAA 608 — National Recycling & Emission Reduction Program

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• METROMETALS NORTHWEST, INC. (ALL RECYCLING) - COE FOR ODS ACOentered 2024-05-16

  Primary law: CAA

Timeline (2 milestones)

• 2024-05-16Final Order Issued
• 2024-05-28Enforcement Action Data Entered