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EPA Cites Chrysler; Includes $16,000 Fine

22 October 1998

EPA Cites Chrysler; Includes $16,000 Fine

    CHICAGO, Oct. 22 -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) Region 5 has recently filed an administrative complaint against Chrysler
Corp. for alleged clean-air violations at the company's Technology Center, 800
Chrysler Dr. East, Auburn Hills, MI.  EPA has proposed a $16,000 penalty.
    EPA said Chrysler did not recover refrigerants from one of its chillers
before performing routine maintenance.
    Chrysler has 30 days from receipt of the complaint to file an answer and
request a hearing. It may request an informal conference to discuss the
allegations anytime.
    "EPA'S goal is to get companies to voluntarily comply with the Clean Air
Act," said Stephen Rothblatt, acting director of the regional Air and
Radiation Division. "When this goal is achieved, we will no longer have to
ensure compliance by taking these enforcement actions."
    Chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants deplete the stratospheric ("good") ozone
layer, allowing dangerous amounts of cancer-causing ultraviolet rays from the
sun to reach the earth. Production of some of these chemicals was stopped in
1995, and Federal law strictly controls their use and handling. Releasing them
into the atmosphere is forbidden.
    Information on compliance with the refrigerant recycling rule can be found
on the Worldwide Web at:  http://www.epa.gov/ozone/ under the heading Stationary
Refrigerant and Air Conditioning.