Malden, Mass. Baking Company Pays Fine for Clean Air Violations

A baking company in Malden, Mass. has agreed to pay a fine of $50,000 for Clean Air Act Violations and will spend $25,000 to purchase renewable energy credits.

Piantedosi Baking Company, a manufacturer of bread products, owns and operates two facilities located at 129 and 240 Commercial Street in Malden. At these facilities, Piantedosi operates a number of industrial freezers that contain ozone depleting substances. EPA inspected the two facilities to evaluate the company’s compliance with the federal stratospheric ozone protection regulations.

EPA found that Piantedosi had failed to document the type of repairs that were conducted on its refrigeration equipment and failed to document that leak repair verification tests had been performed. The failure to document these activities made it difficult for EPA to determine if the company was effectively repairing refrigerant leaks.

Certain types of refrigerants, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), contain ozone depleting substances that destroy the thin layer of ozone in the upper part of the atmosphere called the stratosphere. In addition, CFCs are potent greenhouses gases that contribute to climate change.

“A healthy ozone layer helps to protect all of us from the sun’s harmful rays,” said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. “It is important for companies using ozone depleting substances to make sure they are maintaining their equipment properly so that they are not releasing these chemicals into the environment. Piantedosi corrected its violations quickly and paid a substantial fine without going to trial -- a good result for New England’s environment.”

As part of the settlement, Piantedosi will purchase renewable energy credits representing 27 percent of its electric power over two years. This purchase of renewable energy will result in significant reductions in carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide.

Most ozone-depleting substances are being phased out and replaced with safer alternatives. Since late 2005, EPA has pursued a number of cases against several other New England companies for violations of the stratospheric ozone protection regulations.