EPA v. COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION (NC)

Case summary

ON NOVEMBER 4, 2014, THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA ENTERED A CONSENT DECREE TO RESOLVE CLAIMS AGAINST COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION, THE NATION'S SECOND LARGEST RETAILER, UNDER THE STRATOSPHERIC OZONE PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 608 OF THE CLEAN AIR ACT. PURSUANT TO THE NATIONAL SETTLEMENT, COSTCO MUST IMPLEMENT A REFRIGERANT COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO PREVENT FUTURE VIOLATIONS OF OZONE PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS, REDUCE ITS CORPORATE-WIDE AVERAGE LEAK RATE BY APPROXIMATELY 21%, RETROFIT OR REPLACE COMMERCIAL REFRIGERATION EQUIPMENT AT 30 WAREHOUSES TO USE NON-OZONE DEPLETING SUBSTANCES WITH A GLOBAL WARMING POTENTIAL OF NO MORE THAN 1,825, AND AT ALL NEW WAREHOUSES, COSTCO MUST INSTALL SECONDARY LOOP SYSTEMS, WHICH USE CONSIDERABLY LESS REFRIGERANT, AND IMPLEMENT CENTRALLY MONITORED LEAK DETECTION SYSTEMS. THE SETTLEMENT, COVERING 278 WAREHOUSES NATIONWIDE IN EVERY EPA REGION, WILL REDUCE EMISSIONS OF THE REFRIGERANT, R-22, BY APPROXIMATELY 128,000 POUNDS, WHICH, AS A POTENT GHG, HAS THE CO2 EQUIVALENT OF 105,000 METRIC TONS, ITSELF EQUIVALENT TO THE ANNUAL GHG EMISSIONS FROM 22,075 PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE CONSENT DECREE ALSO REQUIRES COSTCO TO PAY A CIVIL PENALTY OF $335,000.

Defendants (1)

• COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATIONNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (11)

• COSTCO WHOLESALE #369

  12221 BLUE VALLEY PKWY, OVERLAND PARK, KS, 66213

  Registry ID: 110012210106

• COSTCO

  200 COSTCO WAY, ST PETERS, MO, 63376

  Registry ID: 110062635457

• COSTCO

  19040 E VALLEY VIEW PARKWAY, INDEPENDENCE, MO, 64055

  Registry ID: 110032624916

• COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION 1012

  12300 WEST DODGE RD, OMAHA, NE, 68154

  Registry ID: 110032640514

• COSTCO WHOLESALE

  241 E LINWOOD BLVD, KANSAS CITY, MO, 64111

  Registry ID: 110003994893

• COSTCO WHOLESALE

  301 HIGHLANDS BLVD, MANCHESTER, MO, 63011-4385

  Registry ID: 110037502066

• COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION 1012

  12300 WEST DODGE RD, OMAHA, NE, 68154

  Registry ID: 110032640514

• COSTCO WHOLESALE

  301 HIGHLANDS BLVD, MANCHESTER, MO, 63011-4385

  Registry ID: 110037502066

• COSTCO WHOLESALE #368

  4200 RUSTY RD, ST LOUIS, MO, 63128

  Registry ID: 110015852317

• COSTCO WHOLESALE #788

  7205 MILLS CIVIC PKWY, WEST DES MOINES, IA, 502668140

  Registry ID: 110018905050

• COSTCO WHOLESALE #349

  9350 MARSHALL DRIVE, LENEXA, KS, 66215-3845

  Registry ID: 110017584103

Statutes cited

• CAA 608 — National Recycling & Emission Reduction Program

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• COSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION (NC)entered 2014-11-05

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $8,435

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 2011-09-22Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2011-09-23Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2014-09-03Complaint Filed With Court
• 2014-09-03Final Order Lodged
• 2014-11-05Final Order Entered
• 2018-04-30Enforcement Action Closed
• 2018-04-30Pipeline Closed