BASF fined $384,200 for HCFC leaks in US refrigeration units

19 October 2009 21:09  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--The US operations of BASF will pay $384,200 (€257,414) to resolve US Clean Air Act violations related to hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) leaks at company facilities in Texas, Michigan, Ohio and New Jersey, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Monday.

In addition, the company will spend more than $250,000 to reduce the use of refrigerant chemicals by retrofitting a Beaumont refrigeration unit in Texas with environmentally friendly alternatives, while also either retrofitting or retiring two other units, the EPA said.

The units in question currently use HCFCs, which destroy stratospheric ozone, according to the EPA. All replacement units will be able to use only non-ozone-depleting refrigerants.

The moves come in addition to actions already taken by BASF, which has replaced or retired four other refrigeration units at company facilities in Livonia, Michigan; Greenville, Ohio; and South Brunswick, New Jersey at a cost of more than $200,000.

Combined, those measures will remove about 4,760 pounds (2.2 tonnes) of HCFCs from company operations, the EPA said.

The settlement is the result of a complaint filed in Beaumont, which alleged Clean Air Act violations due to BASF’s failure to prevent excessive leaks of ozone-depleting refrigerants from industrial coolers at the four facilities as well as one in Washington, New Jersey.

“Today’s settlement marks an important step in protecting the earth’s stratospheric ozone layer from the harmful effects of HCFCs,” said EPA acting regional administrator Lawrence Starfield.

BASF did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

($1 = €0.67)

For more on BASF visit ICIS company intelligence
To discuss issues facing the chemical industry go to ICIS connect

By: Ben DuBose
+1 713 525 2653

For the latest chemical news, data and analysis that directly impacts your business sign up for a free trial to ICIS news - the breaking online news service for the global chemical industry.

Get the facts and analysis behind the headlines from our market leading weekly magazine: sign up to a free trial to ICIS Chemical Business.

Printer Friendly