5/16/01: RELEASE OF REFRIGERANT TO THE ENVIRONMENT; FAILURE TO USE RECOVERY/RECYCLE EQUIPMENT. A COMPLAINT WAS ISSUED ON MAY 15, 2001, ALLEGING VIOLATION OF SECTION 7671H AND THE REGULATIONS AT 40 C.F.R. PART 82, SUBPART F. THE CI TY HAS A CURBSIDE PICKUP PROGRAM FOR APPLIANCES, INCLUDING A PPLIANCES CONTAINING REGULATED REFRIGERANTS. THE CITY FAILE D TO CHECK THE APPLIANCES FOR ANY REMAINING REFRIGERANT. TH E CITY HAD A RECOVERY/RECYCLE MACHINE BUT DID NOT USE IT. T HE CITY USED GRAPPLE CLAWS AND FRONT LOADER BUCKETS TO HANDL E APPLIANCES, AS WELL AS DUMPING THEM ONTO THE GROUND FROM D UMP TRUCKS, THUS BREAKING THE REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS. COUNT I - FROM DECEMBER, 1997, THROUGH AUGUST, 2000, THE CITY HAND LED APPLIANCES CONTAINING REFRIGERANT IN A MANNER THAT ALLOW ED VENTING OF REFRIGERANT TO THE ENVIRONMENT IN VIOLATION OF 40 C.F.R. a 82.154(A). COUNT II - FROM DECEMBER, 1997, THR OUGH AUGUST, 2000, THE CITY FAILED TO RECOVER REFRIGERANT OR VERIFY THAT THE REFRIGERANT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY PROPERLY RE MOVED. THE COMPLAINT PROPOSED A PENALTY OF $89,957. 10/18/01: CHECK NUMBER 6568 PAYS THE $54,000 PENALTY IN FULL AND THE CASE IS CLOSED.