UC settles suit for clean air violations

Due to Clean Air Act violations, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency reached an agreement of $118,404 in fines with
the University of California Feb. 22 in a civil suit.

Both UC Berkeley and UC Davis were cited for violating the
stratospheric ozone protection program in the winter of 2002. The
program attempts to decrease the number of ozone-depleting
compounds released into the environment.

The fines were imposed due to incorrect record keeping and
inadequate refrigerant servicing linked to air conditioning units
on both campuses.

“The problem was a record-keeping problem. The EPA rules
require a certain level of record keeping for maintenance and
regulation of air conditioning units and so our fine was a result
of failing to have the records that were required,” said
Marie Felde, campus spokeswoman for Berkeley.

The campus is now in compliance with EPA requirements, Felde
said.

The Davis campus listed similar reasoning for its fines.

“Both campuses acted immediately after the inspections to
remedy the deficiencies and bring both campuses into compliance
with the regulations. … The violations relate primarily to record
keeping,” said UC Davis spokesman Mitchel Benson in an
e-mail.

These requirements dictate that records be kept and leaks be
repaired by operators of refrigeration appliances that have more
than 50 pounds of substitute refrigerant-releasing, ozone-depleting
substances.

The stratospheric ozone layer protects the earth from the
sun’s ultraviolet radiation. Refrigerants that release
compounds such as chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons
destroy the ozone layer that absorbs the UV light.

These compounds, for instance, can be released from air
conditioning units in automobiles. These molecules are subsequently
broken down by the sun’s rays, releasing chlorine which can
destroy thousands of ozone molecules. This puts the environment and
surrounding life in danger.

Scientists say that ultraviolet radiation can lead to increased
cases of skin cancer, depression of the immune system and decreased
crop production.

Inspections by the EPA revealed insufficient appliance
maintenance at both campuses.

“For Berkeley, the violations were for failing to remove
refrigerants from two appliances and repairing leaks on one. …
The ozone requirements are that leaks have to be repaired within 30
days of discovery,” said Margaret Walden, an EPA
environmental scientist responsible for the inspections.

The refrigerant was subsequently repaired.

“We believe our technicians repaired the chiller using
proper refrigerant management procedures. Unfortunately, records
are unclear on the details of the physical repair. Additionally,
the managers overseeing our refrigeration servicing at that time
are no longer with the university,” said Bob Krambuhl,
production controller for UC Berkeley Physical Plant-Campus
Services.

Technicians now use a software tracking program that collects
refrigerant data which is reviewed by an environmental health and
safety specialist. The operations and maintenance department
provided training for technicians operating refrigerants, said
Benson in an e-mail.

The air conditioning units contain the refrigerants and are
stationed around campus.

EPA inspectors identified other violations, including inadequate
repair of a leaky appliance within 30 days of discovery and
incorrect record keeping on six refrigerant appliances at Davis. At
Berkeley, inspectors identified violations such as not forming a
one-year retirement plan for a leaky refrigerant and not keeping
proper records on three appliances.

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