Document dVv9o9zM32nwJ8zr45yZKkG

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 5 77 WEST JACKSON BOULEVARD CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60604 SUBJECT: FROM: THRU: TO: CLEAN AIR ACT INSPECTION REPORT Apex Recycling Services, Fairmont City, Illinois Karina Kuc, Environmental Engineer AECAB (IL/IN) Nathan Frank, Section Supervisor AECAB (IL/IN) File BASIC INFORMATION Facility Name: Apex Recycling Services Facility Location: 1245 N 1st St, Fairmont City, IL 62201 Date of Inspection: September 20, 2023 EPA Inspector(s): 1. Karina Kuc, Environmental Engineer 2. Tess Russell, Environmental Engineer 3. Natalie Topinka, Environmental Scientist Other Attendees: 1. Frank Sophie, Site Manager Contact Email Address: fsophie@apex-recycling.com Purpose of Inspection: assess compliance with refrigerant safe disposal regulations Facility Type: scrap metal recycler Regulations Central to Inspection: 40 C.F.R. Part 82 Arrival Time: 3:10 pm Departure Time: 4:00 pm Inspection Type: Unannounced Inspection Announced Inspection Facility Name: Apex Recycling Services Facility Location: 1245 N 1st St, Fairmont City, IL Date of Inspection: September 20, 2023 OPENING CONFERENCE report Presented Credentials Stated authority and purpose of inspection Provided Small Business Resource Information Sheet: provided via email with inspection Provided CBI warning to facility The following information was obtained verbally from Apex Recycling Services staff unless otherwise noted. Process Description: Apex Recycling Services (Apex) has been open at the Fairmont City location for 15 years and operates with 40 employees. Apex owns two locations. The business accepts ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metals for recycling, including small appliances, from peddlers and commercial accounts. Apex does not accept whole vehicles, only components. Staff Interview: Apex's policy is that they will not accept an appliance with a sealed unit. If they accidently accept an appliance with refrigerant, they put it to the side and have it recovered by a 3rd party. They accept appliances with cut lines. Peddlers sign a scale purchase ticket that does not have any language regarding refrigerants. Apex does not have contracts with commercial customers but rather keeps a copy of their business license. Apex accepts at least 1- 10 appliances/day. TOUR INFORMATION EPA Tour of the Facility: Yes Data Collected and Observations: EPA observed the scrap pile being loaded into an outgoing truck and saw one water cooler with an intact refrigeration line, one refrigerator with cut lines, and one refrigerator with the compressor removed. Apex also had set aside four intact refrigerators and one water cooler for recovery. Apex does not have a sign regarding its refrigerant policy visible onsite. Photos and/or Videos: were taken during the inspection. Field Measurements: were not taken during this inspection. RECORDS REVIEW 1. Apex's record of 3rd party refrigerant recovery 2. Apex's scale ticket Page 2 of 4 CLOSING CONFERENCE Facility Name: Apex Recycling Services Facility Location: 1245 N 1st St, Fairmont City, IL Date of Inspection: September 20, 2023 Provided U.S. EPA point of contact to the facility Compliance Assistance: EPA gave an overview of the requirements of 40 C.F.R. Part 82, Subpart F as they apply to scrap metal recyclers. Concerns: Apex accepts appliances that have not had the refrigerant properly recovered. Apex does not use a signed statement with peddlers requiring the supplier to provide the name and address of who recovered refrigerant and the date it was recovered prior to delivery, in accordance with 40 C.F.R. 82.155(b). . Signage and brochures at the facility entrance do not inform customers of requirements for proper refrigerant recovery before delivery. Apex's practice of rejecting appliances with "sealed units" but without requiring documentation of proper refrigerant recovery prior to delivery incentivizes customers to improperly vent refrigerant. As evidenced by the water cooler with intact refrigeration line in the scrap pile, Apex is not adequately inspecting appliances. DIGITAL SIGNATURES KARINA Digitally signed by KARINA KUC Date: 2023.10.13 Report Author: _K_U__C__________14_:4_1:4_1_-0_5'_00_' ____________ Section Supervisor: NATHAN Digitally signed by NATHAN FRANK Date: 2023.10.18 _F_R_A__N_K_______1_0:_59_:3_4 _-05_'0_0'______________ Page 3 of 4 APPENDICES AND ATTACHMENTS Appendix A: Digital Image Log Facility Name: Apex Recycling Services Facility Location: 1245 N 1st St, Fairmont City, IL Date of Inspection: September 20, 2023 Page 4 of 5 Facility Name: Apex Recycling Services Facility Location: 1245 N 1st St, Fairmont City, IL Date of Inspection: September 20, 2023 APPENDIX A: DIGITAL IMAGE LOG 1. Inspector Name: Tess Russell 2. Archival Record Location: Region 5 Electronic Records Center Image Number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 File Name IMG_1540.jpg IMG_1541.jpg IMG_1542.jpg IMG_1543.jpg IMG_1544.jpg IMG_1545.jpg IMG_1546.jpg IMG_1547.jpg IMG_1548.jpg IMG_1548.jpg IMG_1550.jpg Date and Time (CST) 9/20/2023 3:12 pm 9/20/2023 3:24 pm 9/20/2023 3:33 pm 9/20/2023 3:36 pm 9/20/2023 3:37 pm 9/20/2023 3:37 pm 9/20/2023 3:41 pm 9/20/2023 3:41 pm 9/20/2023 3:41 pm 9/20/2023 3:43 pm 9/20/2023 3:44 pm Description of Image Signage in front of Apex Scale receipt Box of compressors Scrap pile being loaded into truck Refrigerator with cut line Intact water cooler Scrap pile Cut line Accidental photo Intact appliance Appliances set aside for recovery Page 5 of 5