--- title: "Trader Joe’s Settles Clean Air Act Violations" canonicalUrl: "https://wyche.com/insights/blog/posts/trader-joes-settles-clean-air-act-violations/" excerpt: "It’s impossible to imagine that anyone could ever dislike Trader Joe’s.   After all, it is the go-to source for such pantry necessities as cookie butter.  But the US Environmental Protection Agency was less than impressed with the company’s failure to (a) repair leaks of the ozone-depleting coolant R-22, which the company’s stores use to keep your food cool, (b) maintain servicing records of its refrigeration equipment, and (c) provide compliance records.   In a settlement with EPA, Trader Joe’s has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $500,000 and spend $2 million over the next three years to reduce coolant…
Read More" datePublished: "2016-07-22T15:31:58-04:00" dateModified: "2024-05-24T16:05:30-04:00" --- - Trader Joe’s Settles Clean Air Act Violations [Home](https://wyche.com/) » Trader Joe’s Settles Clean Air Act Violations [** Rita Bolt Barker](https://wyche.com/author/rbarker/) ** ** ** # Trader Joe’s Settles Clean Air Act Violations It’s impossible to imagine that anyone could ever dislike Trader Joe’s.   After all, it is the go-to source for such pantry necessities as cookie butter.  But the US Environmental Protection Agency was less than impressed with the company’s failure to (a) repair leaks of the ozone-depleting coolant R-22, which the company’s stores use to keep your food cool, (b) maintain servicing records of its refrigeration equipment, and (c) provide compliance records.   In a [settlement](https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-06/documents/traderjoes-cd.pdf) with EPA, Trader Joe’s has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $500,000 and spend $2 million over the next three years to reduce coolant leaks from refrigerators and other equipment as well as improve company-wide compliance. Trader Joe’s will implement a comprehensive compliance system, including a quarterly leak monitoring program, and the use of non-ozone depleting refrigerants at new and remodeled stores. Cynthia Giles, the Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, praised the settlement.  “The company-wide upgrades Trader Joe’s will make are not only good for the environment, they set a high bar for the grocery industry for detecting and fixing coolant leaks.” This settlement is one of several in a series of national grocery store refrigerant cases, including matters against Safeway and Costco.  EPA regulations require owners and operators of commercial refrigeration equipment that contains over 50 pounds of ozone-depleting refrigerants to repair any leaks within 30 days. [*](https://wyche.com/author/rbarker/) [## Rita Bolt Barker](https://wyche.com/author/rbarker/) Rita Bolt Barker is an experienced litigator and counselor, focusing primarily on environmental, commercial litigation, and insurance coverage matters. RELATED ARTICLES [](https://wyche.com/insights/blog/posts/south-carolina-lawyers-weekly-5-million-verdict/) ### [South Carolina Lawyers Weekly: $5 Million Verdict](https://wyche.com/insights/blog/posts/south-carolina-lawyers-weekly-5-million-verdict/) Wyche attorneys Jessica Fickling, John Moylan, and Brian Critzer secured a $5 million jury verdict in Richland County on behalf of a client who sustained [](https://wyche.com/insights/blog/posts/wyche-adds-standout-associates-stephen-atkinson-and-hayden-cox-to-its-corporate-practice-group/) ### [Wyche Adds Standout Associates Stephen Atkinson and Hayden Cox to Its Corporate Practice Group](https://wyche.com/insights/blog/posts/wyche-adds-standout-associates-stephen-atkinson-and-hayden-cox-to-its-corporate-practice-group/) GREENVILLE, SC (November 6, 2025) – Wyche, a leading full-service law firm with offices across South Carolina, is pleased to announce the addition of Stephen [* View All](https://wyche.com/insights/news-stories/) ## Stay in Touch Join one our mailing lists and receive regular updates! [Subscribe to Updates](/subscription) ## Contact Us * * Send Message - [Our Philosophy](https://wyche.com/our-philosophy/) - [Unique Culture](https://wyche.com/our-unique-culture/) - [Client Service](https://wyche.com/wyche-difference/) - [Global Reach](https://wyche.com/global-reach/) - [Careers](https://wyche.com/careers/) - [Locations](https://wyche.com/locations) - [Centennial](https://wyche.com/wyche-100/) [Linkedin **](https://www.linkedin.com/company/wychepa/) [Facebook **](https://www.facebook.com/wychepa?ref=hl) [Instagram **](https://www.instagram.com/wychepa/)