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GOLF MANUFACTURERS PAY $216,000 IN EPA OZONE LAYER SETTLEMENT

Release Date: 1/16/1996
Contact Information: Bill Glenn, U.S. EPA, (415) 744-1589

(San Francisco) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) today announced that it has signed separate settlement agreements with seven major golf club companies to correct improper notification of the public where ozone-depleting chemicals are used in their manufacturing processes.  The companies agreed to pay a total of $216,300 in penalties and to come into compliance with federal regulations designed to protect the stratospheric ozone layer.

     "As required by the Clean Air Act, rules have been established to alert the consumer whenever chemicals that seriously deplete the protective ozone layer are used in the goods they purchase," said David P. Howekamp, director of the air and toxics division of U.S. EPA's western regional office.  "By complying with these regulations, the seven companies demonstrate their willingness to inform the public about choices that can be made to protect the environment."

     The seven California golf club manufacturers, which each settled separately, are: Cobra Golf Inc., Carlsbad ($42,000); Cubic Balance Golf Technology, Rancho Santa Margarita ($28,000);  Daiwa Corporation Golf Division, Garden Grove ($28,000); Fila Golf Inc., Huntington Beach ($28,000); Founders Golf Club Co., San Marcos ($22,400); Lynx Golf, City of Industry ($42,000); and, Mitsushiba International, Orange ($25,900).

     Under the federal Clean Air Act, products manufactured using certain types of ozone- depleting chemicals must be properly labeled so that the customer is aware of the use of these chemicals prior to purchase.  The listed companies were cited for not complying with these provisions, which went into effect on May 15, 1993.  Regulations require that applicable products contain a warning label to notify the buyer that "the product is manufactured with or contains a substance which harms public health and environment by destroying ozone in the upper atmosphere."

     While the use of ozone-depleting substances is not prohibited in the manufacture of golf clubs, most of the companies cited have decided to convert their process to use alternative chemicals that do not pose an environmental threat.  In the investigative work leading up to these enforcement actions, U.S. EPA found that the majority of golf club manufacturers were in compliance with rules to protect the ozone layer.

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