W.W. Grainger, Incorporated Settlement
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W.W. Grainger, Incorporated Settles For $14,000
In September 2021, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and W.W. Grainger, Incorporated (Grainger), of Lake Forest, Illinois, reached a settlement agreement in the amount of $14,000. Of the total amount, $7,000 will fund the Supplemental Environmental Project entitled SEI Air Quality Education Program-Contra Costa. This SEP provides educational opportunities for students to understand air pollution impacts on human health and environment. The remaining $7,000 will be deposited into CARB’s Air Pollution Control Fund, which provides funding for projects and research to improve California's air quality.
An investigation conducted by CARB staff revealed that Grainger sold, supplied, offered for sale and/or manufactured Fabric Refresher (aerosol) and General Purpose Cleaner (nonaerosol) products for use in California containing concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOC) that exceeded the standards specified in California Code of Regulations (CCR), title 17, section 94509(a) (17 CCR § 94509(a)). Grainger also sold, supplied, and offered for sale a Penetrant product that contained a prohibited toxic, perchloroethylene (17 CCR § 94509(m)(1)). As a result, there was a total of 0.57 tons of excess VOC emissions and 0.02 tons of a prohibited toxic. Additionally, Grainger did not file an explanation of the product code, as required in the Additional Product Dating Requirement (17 CCR § 94512(c)).
To come into compliance, Grainger has stopped sale of the Fabric Refresher and the General Purpose Cleaner products, removed the Penetrant product from the California marketplace, and filed documents to meet the product dating requirements. The company fully cooperated with CARB to resolve this matter.