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EPA Settles with Company for Illegal Importation of Ozone-depleting Substances

October 1, 2007

EPA announced on Oct. 1 it recently reached a settlement with Carrier Guam, of Tamuning, a refrigeration and heating equipment services company, for allegedly importing refrigerants regulated by the Clean Air Act.

The company imported 32,356 kilograms of hydrochlorofluorocarbon, an ozone-depleting substance. EPA's stratospheric ozone protection regulations limit and regulate the import of the product from sources outside the United States.

"EPA limits the importation of ozone-depleting chemicals into the United States to protect the ozone layer from further damage," said Deborah Jordan, director of the EPA's Air Division for the Pacific Southwest region. "Refrigeration companies in Guam are not excluded from the rules and need to comply with the stratospheric ozone protection regulations in the Clean Air Act."

A May 2006 inspection by the Guam EPA, in consultation with U.S. EPA, identified the alleged violations of the stratospheric ozone protection regulations committed by Carrier Guam.

For more information on EPA's stratospheric ozone protection program, go to http://www.epa.gov/ozone/strathome.html.