Air Liquide Agrees to Resolve Clean Air Violations in 18States

July 6, 2001
Air Liquide America Corp. has agreed to replace refrigerant chemicals that destroy the earth's stratospheric ozone\r\nlayer with environmentally friendly alternatives.

The Justice Department and EPA announced a ground-breaking Clean Air Act settlement with Air Liquide America Corp. to replace refrigerant chemicals that destroy the earth''s stratospheric ozone layer with environmentally friendly alternatives.

The government charged Air Liquide with illegally releasing ozone-depleting gases from industrial process refrigeration systems at 22 facilities located in 18 states.

The agreement, filed in U.S. District Court in Texas, requires Air Liquide to convert all its industrial refrigeration systems now using regulated ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to systems using alternative, environmentally friendly refrigerants.

The company also will fund an "environmental justice" supplemental project that will benefit a lower income, predominately minority community in Louisiana, and pay a $4.5 million civil penalty.

"Air Liquide''s actions are an excellent example of cooperation between a company and the government to find a solution that averts further damage to the ozone-layer and involves tangible measures that preserve an undisturbed area of land from future development," said EPA Administrator Christie Whitman.

The ozone layer is located in the upper atmosphere 30 miles above the earth''s surface. This layer of gas screens individuals from the sun''s powerful and harmful ultraviolet radiation, which can lead to sunburn, cataracts and skin cancer.

Air Liquide America Corporation is a subsidiary of L''Air Liquide, SA, Paris France, the world''s largest manufacturer of industrial and medical gases, such as super-cooled liquid oxygen, nitrogen, and other gases.

The company''s cryogenic manufacturing facilities use large industrial refrigeration systems containing ozone-depleting substances regulated under the Clean Air Act.

Under the settlement Air Liquide will replace or completely retrofit 46 industrial refrigeration systems to coolant methods that are environmentally benign, and will retire seven more systems which use ozone-depleting refrigerants.

The company also will dedicate an undeveloped parcel of land having ecological value as open or "green" space in the industrialized area of Calcasieu Parish, La. The project is valued at $422,000.

Additionally, the company will donate a two-acre parcel of land it owns in Westlake, La., to the Carlyss Fire Department for a new two-bay fire and emergency response station. This particular project is valued at about $78,000.

Air Liquide could have continued to use regulated, ozone-depleting refrigerants in these systems for an indefinite period of time, provided the company complied with CAA requirements

Instead, the company chose to voluntarily revamp its refrigeration processes. "We commend Air Liquide for its good faith in seeking to offset the past excessive leaks of ozone-depleting refrigerants by making these efforts to reduce the use of ozone-depleting substances all together," said John

Cruden, acting assistant attorney general of the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice.

The United States and more than 100 countries have agreed to end production of chemicals that deplete the ozone layer.

The CAA contains many measures to protect the ozone layer, including a ban on venting into the air CFC refrigerant from air conditioners and small appliances.

Additionally, the United States has committed to reducing emissions of ozone-depleting substances to their "lowest achievable level" at manufacturing and industrial facilities.

by Virginia Sutcliffe

Sponsored Recommendations

3 Essential Elements for a Strong Safety Culture

March 13, 2024
Organizations globally have increased their attention on safety culture: trying to figure out what it really is and the aspects that are necessary to develop and sustain it. And...

Making the Case for Occupational Health Software

March 13, 2024
Deciding to invest in Occupational Health (OH) software can be a challenging leap for many organizations. This article will equip businesses with insightful strategies for effectively...

Fighting the Flu: Solutions for the Workplace

March 13, 2024
Seasonal flu continues to wreak considerable havoc both on individual wellness, as well as on our business continuity and productivity. Explore these solutions for protecting ...

Preventing SIFs with Digitization: Reduce Serious Injuries and Fatalities with Technology

March 13, 2024
This eBook discusses the origins of SIF prevention, outlines principles, models and tools available to EHS leaders to better detect and address SIF potential in their business...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!