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THIRTY-SIX COMPANIES IN THE SOUTHEAST CITED IN EPA ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVE UNDER THE FEDERAL CLEAN AIR ACT

Release Date: 08/11/1999
Contact Information: Dawn Harris, EPA Press and Media Relations, 404-562-8421

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has taken enforcement action against 36 companies in the Southeast as part of the Agency's Chlorofluorocarbons Motor Vehicle Air Conditioner (CFC MVAC) enforcement initiative under the Federal Clean Air Act. Twenty-five of the companies received Administrative Orders (AOs) and eleven received Administrative Penalty Orders (APOs).

John H. Hankinson, Jr., EPA Regional Administrator in Atlanta, said, "These enforcement actions reflect the Agency's commitment to ensuring compliance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act to protect human health and the environment. The environmental threat from CFCs is serious and well-documented; therefore, EPA will aggressively enforce the laws regulating their use."

During this initiative, contract inspectors from EPA Headquarters inspected motor vehicle air conditioner shops in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee. EPA Region 4 received approximately 300 inspection reports and reviewed each for compliance with the requirements of Title VI of the Clean Air Act.



Companies were cited for a range of violations that include:
failure to certify the acquisition and proper use of approved motor vehicle air conditioner equipment;

the use of an unacceptable alternative refrigerant in a MVAC system;

venting of a refrigerant to the atmosphere during the disposal of an appliance; and

the use of improperly trained and certified personnel.



The AOs and APOs required each facility to comply with the regulations governing the use of CFCs in servicing air conditioners in motor vehicles. Additionally, the companies that received APOs are required to pay a civil penalty. Most of the companies have already taken steps to comply with the Orders.

Administrative Orders, (No Penalty)
Alabama
3 Brothers Service Center, Montgomery, AL
Lindsey's Auto Sales & Service, Montgomery, AL
Tire Centers, Inc., Montgomery, AL
Johnson's Automotive, Montgomery, AL
Florida
Bacchus Auto Repair, Hollywood, FL
Martin Petroleum Corp., Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Transamerican Clutch & Auto Repair, Tampa, FL
Mercedes Shell Auto Care, Jacksonville, FL
Perry's Automotive, Orlando, FL
Auto Tender Auto Electric, Inc., Orlando, FL
Prestige Auto Service, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
17th Street Gas & Service, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Highland Auto Center, N. Miami Beach, FL
Gonzalez Automotive, Inc., Jacksonville, FL
Euro Werkes, Inc., Lauderdale Lakes, FL
Georgia
Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Marietta, GA
Waynesboro Garden Apartments, Waynesboro, GA
Taft Auto Service d/b/a Buckhead Texaco, Atlanta, GA
C&F Auto Repair, Inc., Savannah, GA
Mississippi
Lane's Auto, Jackson, MS
Henderson's Garage, Ridgeland, MS
Crossgates Tire & Auto Service, Brandon, MS
Hancock & McLemore Auto Repair, Flowood, MS
M & S Auto Sales, Jackson, MS
Tennessee
Steels Salvage Yard, Winchester, TN

Administrative Penalty Orders
Alabama
A&P Automotive Inc., Montgomery, AL - $3,870
Florida
Joel Patterson Air Conditioning, Ft. Myers, FL - $500
Florida Tire, Inc., Orlando, FL - $4,639.25
Olsen Tire Total Car Care, Clearwater, FL - $19,318.75
Car-Pro Automotive Service, Inc., Tampa, FL - 3,870
Georgia
Realty Management Corporation, Atlanta, GA - $17,640
Butler Automotive Service, Martinez, GA - $3,870
Kentucky
Stone Auto Truck Repair, Oak Grove, KY - $500
Mississippi
Graves & Stoddard, Inc., Flowood, MS - $7,719.25
Sledges Wrecker service, Madison, MS - $3,000
Tennessee
Frost Auto Alignment, Clarksville, TN - $1,000

The stratospheric ozone layer protects the earth from ultraviolet (UV-B) radiation. According to a national and international consensus, refrigerants like CFCs and hydrochlorofluorocarbons must be restricted because of the risk of depletion of the ozone layer. When depletion of the ozone occurs, the potential for UV-B radiation exposure increases, resulting in potential health and environmental harm including increased incidence of skin cancers and cataracts, suppression of the immune system, and damage to plants including crops and aquatic organisms.

Persons interested in obtaining additional information about CFCs or would like to report suspected violations are encouraged to call EPA's toll free hotline at 1-800-296-1996 or visit EPA's web site at www.epa.gov/ozone/