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newsrel -- Air Resources Board fines pair of food suppliers $160,000 for violating refrigerant management rule

Posted: 12 Jan 2015 11:26:48
Please consider the following news release from the California
Air Resources Board: http://bit.ly/1y5bIf0
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 12, 2015

NEWS RELEASE 15-02

CONTACT:

Dave Clegern
(916) 322-2990
dclegern@arb.ca.gov

Air Resources Board fines pair of food suppliers $160,000 for
violating refrigerant management rule 


The Air Resources Board today announced financial settlements
with two California food supply companies for violating a rule on
the management of high global warming potential (high GWP)
refrigerants. The companies are Performance Foodservice of
Southern California and Engelhart Gourmet Foods Inc. of
Fairfield.

High GWP refrigerants have global warming potential which is
often thousands of times greater than carbon dioxide. These cases
involve the companies’ failure to file on time their annual
reports of greenhouse gas emissions.  All businesses with a
stationary refrigeration unit containing 200 pounds or more of
high GWP refrigerant must file this report by March 1 each year.
The filing is required under the Regulation for the Management of
High Global Warming Refrigerants for Stationary Sources, more
commonly known as the Refrigerant Management Program. 

“The Refrigeration Management Program is an important part of
California’s effort to fight climate change,” said ARB
Enforcement Chief James Ryden. “Companies must file annual
reports in order to verify that they have regularly serviced
their equipment and corrected leaks promptly, preventing
emissions of high GWP refrigerants.” 

The Refrigerant Management Program is one of a suite of programs
under AB 32, California’s climate law, designed to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. The refrigerants
in both cases are R-22 and R-507. R 22 has a global warming
potential of 1,810, which means it can trap heat 1,810 times more
effectively than carbon dioxide. R-507 has a global warming
potential 3,985 times higher than carbon dioxide.

Performance Foodservice supplies food, kitchen and restaurant
supplies. A notice of violation was issued by ARB to Performance
for filing its 2012 annual report late. The Air Resources Board
assessed a $95,000 penalty for late filing. Moving forward,
Performance has changed its recordkeeping and monitoring
procedures to facilitate regulatory compliance.  

Engelhart Gourmet Foods Inc. supplies sausage and condiments. A
notice of violation was issued to Engelhart for submitting its
2012 annual report late. The Air Resources Board assessed a
$65,800 penalty for late filing. The company also has changed its
recordkeeping and monitoring procedures.

Both companies faced potential penalties of up to $10,000 per
day. However, both were cooperative and filed the late reports
quickly, once notified of the violations. These are also first
violations in both cases. Both cases concluded in settlement
agreements.

High GWP gases are used in a wide variety of products, from
refrigeration and air-conditioning, to insulating foams, fire
protection equipment, solvents and other applications. Currently,
high-GWP gases account for 3 percent of California’s total GHG
emissions, but are projected to rise to nearly 8 percent by 2020
as they are used to replace gases which damage the Earth’s ozone
layer.

For more information about the Refrigerant Management Program,
see: http://www.arb.ca.gov/stoprefrigerantleaks


California is in a drought emergency.
Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.

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