EPA AND NEW YORK CITY SETTLE LAWSUIT TO ADDRESS AIR VIOLATIONS

FOR RELEASE: THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 2000

EPA AND NEW YORK CITY SETTLE LAWSUIT TO ADDRESS AIR VIOLATIONS

The City of New York and the New York City Department of Sanitation have agreed to pay $1 million to settle claims that the city knowingly released ozone-depleting substances such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) into the environment when disposing of household appliances. In addition, New York City will spend $3 million on supplemental environmental projects to benefit its environment. The city was cited for collecting discarded appliances from New York City residents in vehicles that compact or crush the appliances without first removing refrigerants which contain ozone-depleting substances or verifying that refrigerants were previously removed from the appliances. The release of ozone-depleting substances into the atmosphere can increase human exposure to ultraviolet radiation, which is a cause of skin cancer and cataracts. For further details on this case, visit: http://www.epa.gov/region02 or contact Mary Mears at 212-637-3669.


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Release date:08/10/2000 Receive our News Releases Automatically by Email