A California resident has been indicted for importing a fluorinated gas into the United States from Mexico that can have a health impact estimated to be hundreds, if not thousands, times greater than carbon dioxide.
A Californian has become the first American indicted for allegedly illegally importing a highly polluting greenhouse gas into the United States, officials said Monday. Michael Hart, from San Diego in the west of the country, was arrested under a 2020 Innovation and Production Act banning the importation of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) unless authorized by the Agency of environmental protection (EPA). These fluorinated gases, commonly found in refrigerators and air conditioners, in fire-fighting systems or as blowing agents in foams, are powerful greenhouse gases, impacting hundreds or even thousands times more important than carbon dioxide in trapping heat in the Earth’s atmosphere and increasing global warming.
Michael Hart also imported chlorodifluoromethane
According to the Justice Department, Michael Hart purchased refrigerants in Mexico and illegally imported them into the United States in his vehicle, hiding them under a tarp and tools. The Californian then published sales announcements on several websites such as Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp, with the aim of making a profit.
“Illegal trafficking in hydrofluorocarbons… harms international efforts to combat climate change under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol,” said David Uhlmann of the EPA, referring to an agreement signed by the United States and many other countries which aims to reduce the use of these polluting gases by 80 to 85% by 2047. According to the judicial authorities, Michael Hart also imported chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22), a molecule that can degrade the ozone layer and which is subject to rules under the Clean Air Act.