Trader Joe’s Fined $500K for Violating Clean Air Act

Supermarket chain Trader Joe’s agreed in court Tuesday to spend nearly $2 million to reduce emissions and coolant leaks from refrigerator equipment in order to comply with the Clean Air Act. The store also agreed to pay a $500,000 civil penalty for violating statutes requiring the cleanup of an ozone-depleting and potent greenhouse gas used as coolant. “Trader Joe’s will now implement a corporate refrigerant compliance management system to comply with federal stratospheric ozone regulations and to detect and repair leaks through a new quarterly leak monitoring program,” the Justice Department announced in a statement on the settlement.