PAQ, Inc. Settlement
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PAQ, Inc. Settles For $16,160
In October 2022, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and PAQ, Inc. reached a settlement in the amount of $16,160 for the company’s violations of the Regulation for the Management of High Global Warming Potential Refrigerants for Stationary Sources, California Code of Regulations, title 17, section 95380 et seq. (RMP Regulation).
PAQ, Inc., with its principal location in Stockton, California, is a grocery store chain that operates medium and large sized refrigeration systems having a full charge of greater than 200 or greater than 2,000 pounds of refrigerant. PAQ, Inc. is subject to the requirements of the RMP Regulation because it self-reported that it owns and operates the stationary refrigeration systems.
In 2018, PAQ, Inc.was referred to the Enforcement Division for lack of annual Automatic Leak Detection system calibration records, and lack of quarterly leak inspection records as specified in California Code of Regulations, title 17, section 95386(a). CARB’s investigation identified the following violations: failure to provide onsite records at time of inspection in 2019 and failure to report annual Automatic Leak Detection System calibration records on time in 2020, at three locations.
PAQ, Inc. came into compliance quickly, and fully cooperated with the investigation. The penalty of $16,160 is over an unspecified number of days of violation. The total penalty amount will be deposited into CARB’s Air Pollution Control Fund, which provides funding for projects and research to improve California's air quality.