On September 29, 2020, EPA approved a Consent Agreement and Final Order (CAFO) resolving six administrative penalty complaints for Clean Air Act (CAA) engine and CFC violations found at Connecticut Scrap, LLC and its five related entities. Nichols Auto Parts was one of the associated entities. EPA had alleged that CT Scrap violated the Hazardous Air Pollutant regulations regarding diesel engines and CFC refrigerant regulations at its metal recycling operations. Since the allegations were alleged, CT Scrap took its engine out of service by connecting to grid power and has represented that it is complying with the CFC regulations. Pursuant to the CAFO, CT Scrap will pay a total penalty of $160,000. The Nichols Auto Parts portion of the penalty is $26,666.
Respondent failed to properly recover refrigerant and/or verify that refrigerant had been recovered from any materials containing refrigerant, using signed statements or contracts prior to receipt of these materials by Nichols. The Region has evidence of three years of CFC violations at Nichols and its five related entities from 2015-2018. Nichols and its entities are currently in compliance.