43 Companies in the Southeast Cited in EPA Enforcement Initiative
1 February 1999
Forty-Three Companies in the Southeast Cited in EPA Enforcement Initiative Under the Federal Clean Air Act
ATLANTA--Jan. 29, 1999--Administrative Orders were issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to forty-three 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.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 the summer months (July and August) of 1998, contract inspectors from EPA Headquarters inspected motor vehicle air conditioner shops in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi. EPA Region 4 received approximately 300 inspection reports and reviewed each for compliance with the requirements of Title VI of the Clean Air Act. One hundred facilities were in full compliance, 150 facilities required the submission of additional information to determine compliance, and 43 facilities were issued Administrative Orders for non-compliance.
Each of the following facilities was cited for failure to certify to the Administrator of EPA that it had acquired and was properly using approved motor vehicle air conditioner equipment and that each individual authorized to use the equipment is properly trained and certified. The Administrative Order required each facility to comply with the regulations governing the use of CFCs in servicing air conditioners in motor vehicles. Most of the companies have already taken steps to comply with the Orders.
ALABAMA Auto Center East, Montgomery Cobb Pontiac-Cadillac, Inc., Montgomery Penske Auto Center No. 3132, Montgomery FLORIDA Accurate Automotive Repair, Clearwater Cool Breeze Auto Air Conditioning, Dania Dison Goodyear No. 4, Jacksonville Firestone Tire & Service, Orlando Ice Cold Auto Air, Orlando J M Automobile Repair, Inc., Ft. Lauderdale Jiffy Lube No. 1527, Tampa Meineke Discount Mufflers No. 1164, Tampa Midas No. 82, Jacksonville Midas No. 6, Miami O'Hannes Auto Repair & Collision, Tampa Olin-Mott Tire Stores No. 3, Tampa Pep Boys No. 182, Davie R + S Import Automotive, Inc., Tampa Sterling Race Craft, Orlando Tuffy Auto Service Center No. 1, Tampa Tuffy Auto Service Centers, Tampa GEORGIA Autosport, Inc., Savannah B C Tires & Auto Service, Martinez Earl Brinson Auto Repair, Savannah Goodyear Tire & Rubber No. 2173 Goodyear Tire & Rubber No. 2483 Lube-N-Tunes, Savannah Mall Auto Repairs, Savannah Meineke Muffler, Savannah Olson Total Car Care No. 6056, Savannah Penske Auto Center No. 4210, Atlanta Pep Boys No. 129, Savannah Precision Tune Auto Care, Augusta Raffield Tire-Masters, Inc., Macon Roswell Tire & Service, Dunwoody Washington Road Firestone, Augusta MISSISSIPPI American Tire & Service, Brandon Brakes & More, Inc., Ridgeland Obie's Chevron, Clinton Patty Peck Honda, Ridgeland Red Tire & Auto Repair, Jackson Reeder's Automotive Service, Pearl Robinson Service Center, Ridgeland Thornton Tire & Auto Service, Jackson
Enforcement actions may be taken against additional facilities upon review of information from the 150 facilities that were required to submit information. These actions may include Administrative Orders as well as Administrative Penalty Orders.
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.
