EPA's Latest Settlement Largest Under Ozone ProtectionProgram

Sept. 13, 2000
Meyer's Bakery, in Little Rock, Ark., has agreed to pay $3.5\r\nmillion in penalties to settle outstanding claims for violations of\r\nthe Clean Air Act.

Meyer''s Bakery, in Little Rock, Ark., has agreed to pay $3.5 million in penalties to settle outstanding claims for violations of the Clean Air Act.

This settlement is the largest settlement in the history of the EPA''s stratospheric ozone protection program.

The stratospheric ozone layer protects the earth from ultraviolet (UV-B) radiation.

This agreement sets a new precedent for EPA enforcement of leak repair regulations at industrial facilities.

"Essentially, Meyer''s Bakery allowed thousands of pounds of refrigerant to leak from appliances without performing required repairs," said John Hankinson Jr., EPA regional administrator in Atlanta. "It is imperative that businesses using these substances manage them responsibly, so that the ozone layer will continue to protect us from harmful ultraviolet radiation."

Clean Air Act regulations require certain types of industrial facilities to repair leaks from appliances that exceed a 35 percent annual leak rate.

Meyer''s service logs revealed that Meyer''s Bakery continued to add refrigerant and operate equipment without making repairs even where the leak rates were greater than 58 percent and as high as 22,531 percent.

These high leak rates resulted in the release of thousands of pounds of ozone depleting substances to the atmosphere.

Additionally, Meyer''s did not follow up repairs with leak checks, maintain complete service records or develop a retrofit or replacement plan for these leaky systems.

In comparison, an average home''s air conditioning system holds 7 to 8 pounds of refrigerant. A car''s system holds about 2 pounds.

Meyer''s Bakery is a commercial bakery that produces bread, muffins and other bakery goods for distribution throughout the United States and Canada.

The violations occurred at Meyer''s facilities in: Hope, Ark.; Arizona City, Ariz.; Orlando, Fla.; Wichita, Kan.; and Cleburne, Texas.

by Virginia Sutcliffe

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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