CHICAGO (July 20, 2004) — U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency Region 5 has cited W.W. Grainger Inc. for alleged violations
of federal clean-air regulations designed to protect the stratospheric
ozone layer. The company has a facilities-maintenance products
distribution center at 100 Grainger Road, Lake Forest, Ill.
EPA alleges that Grainger sold banned nonessential products made
with an ozone-depleting substance and failed to display proper
notification where products containing an ozone-depleting substance
were sold. The company sells some products containing dichlorofluoroethane,
a chlorofluorocarbon or CFC, including a wheel chock and aerosol
dispensers of cleaning fluids for electronic or photographic equipment.
In addition, EPA alleges the company sold products containing
an ozone-depleting substance to unqualified purchasers and to purchasers
failing to show proof that they were qualified purchasers. Federal
regulations require that products containing ozone-depleting substances
only be sold to commercial buyers.
“EPA’s mission is to protect public health and the
environment,” said Acting Regional Administrator Bharat Mathur. “We
will take whatever steps are needed to ensure compliance with the
Clean Air Act.”
Chlorofluorocarbons deplete the stratospheric or “good” ozone
layer, allowing dangerous amounts of cancer-causing ultraviolet
rays from the sun to strike the earth. Production of some of these
chemicals was stopped in 1955, and federal law strictly controls
their use and handling.
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