Whole Foods Market California, Inc. and Mrs. Gooch's Natural Food Markets, Inc., dba Whole Foods Market Settlement
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Whole Foods Market California, Inc. and Mrs. Gooch's Natural Food Markets, Inc., dba Whole Foods Market Settles For $203,527
In July 2024, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) reached a settlement with Whole Foods Market California, Inc. and Mrs. Gooch's Natural Food Markets, Inc., dba Whole Foods Market (collectively, Whole Foods Market), with its principal location in Emeryville, California for violations of the regulation, Management of High-Global Warming Potential Refrigerants for Stationary Sources (Refrigerant Management Program or RMP Regulation), as codified in California Code of Regulations, title 17, section 95380 et seq.
Whole Foods Market failed to: (1) Ensure that all detected refrigerant leaks were repaired within fourteen days of its detection by a certified technician; and (2) Submit accurate annual reports, as required by the RMP Regulation.
Whole Foods Market voluntarily disclosed 68 days in violation for failing to ensure that all detected refrigerant leaks are repaired within fourteen days of its detection by a certified technician. Whole Foods Market discovered the violations through a voluntary environmental audit reflecting Whole Foods Market’s due diligence in preventing, detecting, and correcting these violations.
The settlement amount of $203,527 represents a per unit penalty of approximately $450 per day for 68 days for failing to ensure that all detected refrigerant leaks are repaired within fourteen days of its detection by a certified technician; $1,000 per day for 57 days for failing to ensure that all detected refrigerant leaks are repaired within fourteen days of its detection by a certified technician and not meeting the requirements of the refrigerant leak repair 45-day allowance; $250 per day for 452 days for failing to submit an accurate annual report; and $2,927 for one count of failing to submit an accurate annual report. The full settlement amount will be deposited into CARB’s Air Pollution Control Fund, which funds projects and research to improve California’s air quality.