First EPA Fine for Venting Refrigerant

The EPA has levied its first fine for illegal venting of CFCs or HCFCs into the atmosphere. The prohibition on refrigerant venting, which was part of the 1990 Clean Air Act, took effect on July 1, 1992. The violation occurred when a worker for Global Construction Corp. of Laconia, New Hampshire cut a refrigerant pipe in the process of removing an air conditioning system from a Massachusetts shopping mall. About 22 pounds of HCFC-22 were released in the incident, according to the January 15

Global Environmental Change Report.