The penalties for any violations of the Clean Air Act include: Civil fines of up to $44,539 per day per violation (as of 2017) Criminal prosecution in US Federal Court (5 years, or double if it's a second offense) Confiscation of violating substances (refrigerants)
Under Section 42402.1, a person may be liable for a civil penalty of up to $25,000 per day if that person has negligently emitted an air contaminant in violation of Part 4 of Division 26 of the code, or any rule, regulation, permit or order of the state Air Resources Board or district board pertaining to emission ...
Refrigeration technicians who violate the Clean Air Act can: Lose their EPA certification, be fined, be required to appear in Federal court. After 1995, any supplies of CFC refrigerants to service existing units in the USA can only come from: recovery and recycling.
EPA is authorized to assess fines of up to $37,500 per day for any violation of these regulations.
EPA may seek civil penalties or injunctive relief (including remediation of the violations and projects to offset excess emissions) for violations of the Act and regulations, and may bring cases in federal district court or through an administrative process.
Citizen Enforcement
Under the CAA, any person may file a civil action against any person, including the United States (EPA) for violations of emission standards or limitations, or violation of an order issued by EPA or a state with respect to such a standard or limitation.
Criminal prosecution in US Federal Court (5 years, or double if it's a second offense) Confiscation of violating substances (refrigerants) Loss of certification to handle refrigerants.
The EPA OIG Cash Awards Program recognizes and rewards the disclosure of suspected fraud, waste, or mismanagement that results in a cost savings to the EPA and the CSB.
Even federal penalties vary significantly among regions. In the South (EPA Region 6) the median Clean Water Act penalty issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regional office is $10,000, while in EPA Region 9 (including California, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii), the median is over six times as high.
There is no way to sugarcoat this. The fine can be as high as $37,500 per day. If a technician topped off the refrigerant and they did not repair the leak, they can lose their EPA certification and be fined as well. That can have a pretty big impact on everyone involved.
Those who knowingly violate the Clean Air Act, including corporate officers, may be subject to criminal penalties, including fines of up to $1 million and imprisonment for up to two years. What does the Clean Water Act do?
The six major pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act's NAAQS are ozone (O3), particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and lead (Pb). (Fun fact: The EPA added lead after NRDC took the agency to court in 1976—and won.)
The Clean Air Act (CAA) defines EPA's responsibilities for protecting and improving the nation's air quality and the stratospheric ozone layer. Section 608 establishes the National Recycling and Emission Reduction Program. Implement the venting prohibition. Reduce the use and emission of CFCs and HCFCs.
One example of a common violation of the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act is tampering with a drinking water supply. This can include contaminating the water source with chemicals or pollutants, or interfering with the treatment and distribution process.
And technicians who violate the Clean Air Act provisions may be fined, lose their certification, and may be required to appear in Federal court.
For example, let's say a technician is working on an R-22 system. If you discover that R-410a was added to this system, you need to recover the mixture in a separate recovery tank. u must use a separate recovery cylinder for the other refrigerant.
Any person servicing, installing or disposing of stationary appliances (except the disposal of small appliances) must be a section 608 certified technician. Selling refrigerant to an individual or company that is not complying with this requirement could result in enforcement action against you or your company.
Penalty: 5 years and/or fines pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 3571. Penalties doubled if second or subsequent conviction.
If you have been charged with a criminal offense in California, you can expect to pay up to $10,000 in fines. Even after serving time and paying your fine, a felony conviction will stay on your record forever, impacting your ability to find work or suitable housing.
Both the magistrates' courts and the Crown Court have the power to impose an unlimited fine but, in practice, the largest fines are likely to be imposed in the Crown Court as they deal with the most serious offences.
EPA regulates emissions of air pollution from mobile and stationary sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA). For more on EPA's enforcement process, go to Basics on enforcement.
Many of the environmental statutes contain provisions that allow citizens to sue EPA when EPA allegedly fails to perform an act or mandatory duty required by the statute. Citizens may also file petitions for review in courts to challenge actions taken by EPA.
A party convicted of a first-time negligent violation of the CWA is subject to a fine of up to $25,000 per day of the violation and imprisonment of up to one year. 33 U.S.C. § 1319(c)(1).