EPA levies $335k fine
against Costco stores for
Clean Air Act violations
What’s the cost of noncompliance? Ask Costco
Wholesale Corp, the nation’s second largest
retailer, who will pay a $335,000 fine and spend
about $2 million over three years to fix refrigerant
leaks and make other improvements at 274 stores
to settle allegations that the warehouse club
operator violated the federal Clean Air Act.
“Industry needs to lead the way in abandoning
harmful chemicals in favor of using and developing
greener, environmentally friendly alternatives to protect
our health and our climate.” said acting assistant
attorney general for the Justice Department’s
Environment and Natural Resources Division.
In November of 2007, the EPA issued Costco an
information request regarding the repair of leaks
from commercial refrigeration appliances containing
and using a class I or class II substance as a
refrigerant. Costco discovered a refrigerant XZ