Document r68qeaj7j5RrrYZwYXB8Z1qE

Clean Air Act Inspection Report Report Date: January 27, 2025 I. Background Inspection Date: January 13, 2025 EPA Inspector: EPA Reviewer: Facility Name: Abdi T. Mohamoud, Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division, Air Compliance Section ABDI MOHAMOUD Date: 2025.01.27 11:53:45 -05'00' Digitally signed by ABDI MOHAMOUD John Melcher, Senior Enforcement Coordinator, Air Compliance Section Northeast Recyclers of Windham JOHN MELCHER Date: 2025.01.27 10:36:34 -05'00' Digitally signed by JOHN MELCHER ICIS Air ID#: CT0000000901500011 Facility Location: 48 Boston Post Rd; Willimantic, CT 06226 Mailing Address: Same Disclaimer: Unless otherwise noted, this report describes conditions at the facility/property as observed by EPA inspector(s), and/or through records provided to and/or information reported to EPA inspector(s) by facility representatives and as understood by the inspector(s). This report may not capture all operations or activities ongoing at the time of the inspection. This report does not make final determinations on potential areas of concern. Nothing in this report affects EPA's authorities under federal statutes and regulations to pursue further investigation or action. Inspection Attendees: Name Abdi T. Mohamoud Tom Storrs Title Environmental Engineer Employee of front office Organization EPA R1 Northeast Recyclers Facility/Process Description: Northeast Recyclers of Windham, Inc. (Northeast) is a recycling facility based in Willimantic, CT, specializing in the collection and processing of various recyclable materials including motor vehicles and towing businesses. Federal Air Regulations: 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F - Recycling and Emissions Reduction Previous Enforcement Actions: A "Detailed Facility Report" from EPA's Enforcement and Compliance History Online database indicates that there have been no informal or formal Clean Air Act enforcement actions taken by EPA against Northeast with respect to this facility in the past five years. II. Inspection A. Opening Conference: The inspection was unannounced. Mr. Mohamoud drove into the facility at 48 Boston Post Road, Willimantic, Connecticut at 10:10 a.m. and he met with Tom Storrs Dreyer, employee. Mr. Mohamoud presented his inspection credentials to Mr. Greyer and explained the purpose of the inspection was to evaluate Northeast's compliance with any applicable Clean Air Act regulations, specifically the regulation that pertains to Stratospheric Ozone Protection. Mr. Storrs allowed the EPA inspector to ask questions and to proceed with his inspection. Mr. Mohamoud asked Mr. Storrs to explain what kind of business Northeast engages. Mr. Storrs said Northeast is a service company that deals with automobile recovery, automobile parts sales and towing. He said that Northeast buys junk automobiles and sells their parts to its customers. Mr. Mohamoud asked how Northeast collects refrigerant from the vehicles it buys before their parts are taken out. Mr. Storrs said that the majority of the vehicles are junk and do not contain any refrigerant when they receive them. He said if a vehicle has refrigerant, Northeast has a recovery machine and tanks to recover the refrigerant from the vehicle. Mr. Mohamoud informed Mr. Storrs that EPA has received a complaint about Northeast not recovering refrigerant from the junk vehicles it receives and uses a forklift to separate the engine from the vehicles without properly recovering the remaining refrigerant from them. Mr. Storrs denied the allegations and said that Northeast recovers any remaining refrigerant from any vehicle and uses forklifts to move undrivable vehicles from one location to another. 2 B. Facility Tour: Mr. was allowed to go through the facility yard where many chuck cars were parked. Mr. Mohamoud took several photos of the junk vehicles and did not see activities during the walk-through. C. Records Reviewed: Mr. Mohamoud did not review any records on-site. D. Closing Conference: During the closing, Mr. Mohamoud informed Mr. Storrs that if what complainant said is true and Northeast uses forklift to separate engines with refrigerant from the junk vehicles that practice must be stopped, and refrigerant must be properly recovered. Mr. Mohamoud thanked Mr. Storrs then left the site at 10:40 a.m. Addendum: On January 13, 2025, Mr. Mohamoud received an email from Bruce Hussey, Director. The message said that Mr. Mohamoud was at Northeast's facility and had questions regarding refrigerant recovery process at Northeast. In this email, Mr. Hussey provided his cell number and encouraged Mr. Mohamoud to call him with any questions. Also in this email, Mr. Hussey provided the following three locations in Connecticut where Northeast operates: Northeast Recyclers of Windham 48 Boston Post Rd. Willimantic, CT 860-450-0200 T&B Motor Sales and Service 460 Storrs Rd. Mansfield, CT 860-423-1187 Northeast Towing and Transport 563 West Thames St. Norwich, CT 860-887-0332 On January 14, 2025, Mr. Mohamoud called Mr. Hussey and explained the purpose of his visit to the Northeast facility. On January 15, 2025, Mr. Hussey sent an email to Mr. Mohamoud. His email listed Northeast's recovery machines and said most of the cars come from their own tow yards and have been in accidents and their systems have been compromised as a result. Others. he said, have systems that, due to their age and various leaks, have no remaining refrigerant. He said the ones that contain refrigerant are evacuated with the machines and the gases are re-used in their fleet vehicles and equipment as well as their customers' cars and trucks were applicable 3