In a landmark case, a Californian man has been charged as the first individual in the United States for unlawfully smuggling greenhouse gases into the country, announced officials on Monday.
Michael Hart, a resident of San Diego, was apprehended under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020, which prohibits the importation of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) without the requisite permits from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
HFCs, potent greenhouse gases commonly utilized in refrigeration, air conditioning systems, insulation, fire suppression equipment, and aerosols, pose a significant threat to the environment. They possess the capability to trap heat in the atmosphere hundreds to thousands of times more efficiently than carbon dioxide, thereby exacerbating the climate crisis.
The Department of Justice revealed that Hart engaged in the illicit procurement of refrigerants from Mexico, clandestinely transporting them into the United States concealed beneath a tarp and various tools in his vehicle. Subsequently, he advertised the smuggled goods for sale on online platforms like OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace, profiting from their distribution.
David Uhlmann of the EPA emphasized the grave implications of such illegal activities, stating, “The illegal smuggling of hydrofluorocarbons undermines international efforts to combat climate change under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.” The Kigali Amendment, ratified by the majority of nations, including the United States, aims to reduce super pollutants like HFCs by 80-85 percent by 2047.
Furthermore, the indictment alleges that Hart imported HCFC 22, an ozone-depleting substance subject to regulation under the Clean Air Act. Notably, Mexico, classified as a developing nation, operates on a more lenient timetable for the phasing out of such pollutants compared to the United States, designated as a developed country.
