Written by: Natalee Codispot<\/p>\n
First Smuggling Charge of Greenhouse Gases into the United States<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>On March 4, 2024, Michael Hart was arrested in violation of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act (\u201cAIM Act\u201d) of 2020.[1]<\/a> The AIM Act[2]<\/a> authorizes the United States Environmental Protection Agency (\u201cEPA\u201d) to phase out the use of hydrofluorocarbons (\u201cHFCs\u201d) by at least eighty-five percent by 2036.[3]<\/a> HFCs are a type of synthetic greenhouse gas that is used in the process of cooling, insulation of buildings, and refrigeration.[4]<\/a> Having an \u201caverage atmospheric lifetime of fifteen years,\u201d the climate change impact of HFCs can be thousands of times greater than the effects of carbon dioxide.[5]<\/a> The HFC Allocation Rule prohibits the importing of HFCs unless that person is authorized by the EPA to do so.[6]<\/a> In fact, in 2021, an Interagency Task Force was enacted to seize illegally imported HFCs.[7]<\/a> By 2022, the force seized the amount of HFCs that convert to over 889,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide.[8]<\/a><\/p>\n The indictment of Michael Hart alleged that he uploaded the HFCs on websites such as Facebook Marketplace to make a profit. [9]<\/a> The indictment also indicates that that the HFCs were smuggled by Hart into the United States from Mexico.[10]<\/a> According to the Environmental Investigation Agency, \u201cclimate super-pollutants\u201d are chosen to be smuggled due to the high profit earned if sold.[11]<\/a> According to the Attorney\u2019s Office of Southern California, Hart is facing thirteen charges including the crimes of illegal importation and selling the illegally imported goods that can result in fines up to $750,000.[12]<\/a> David Uhlmann, head of the EPA\u2019s enforcement office, indicated that charging Hart marks the United States\u2019 increased efforts to monitor and prevent illegal super-pollutants from entering into the country.[13]<\/a><\/p>\n Since Hart\u2019s appearance in court on March 4, 2024, in which he pled not guilty to all charges, a pre-trial hearing has been set for March 25, 2024 before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Miller.[14]<\/a> Illegal importation of greenhouse gases undermines and threatens international efforts and regulations to monitor the effects of climate change.[15]<\/a> Nationally, the arrest of Hart \u201chighlights the significance of EPA\u2019s climate enforcement initiative.\u201d[16]<\/a><\/p>\n [1]<\/a> California Man Arrested for Smuggling Potent Greenhouse Gases into the United States, <\/em>U.S. Department of Justice, (Mar. 4, 2024), https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/california-man-arrested-smuggling-potent-greenhouse-gases-united-states.<\/p>\n [2]<\/a> American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act of 2020, 42 U.S.C. \u00a7 7675.<\/p>\n [3]<\/a> Enforcement of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020<\/em>, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/enforcement\/enforcement-american-innovation-and-manufacturing-act-2020#:~:text=It%20prohibits%2C%20starting%20on%20January,.%20.%20.%20.%E2%80%9D%2040%20C.F.R, (last updated Mar. 18, 2024).<\/p>\n [4]<\/a> Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), <\/em>Climate & Clean Air Collation, https:\/\/www.ccacoalition.org\/short-lived-climate-pollutants\/hydrofluorocarbons-hfcs, (last visited Mar. 30, 2024).<\/p>\n [5]<\/a> Id<\/em>.<\/p>\n [6]<\/a> 40 C.F.R. \u00a7 84.23(b)(2) (2021).<\/p>\n [7]<\/a> Morgan McFall-Johnsen & Jenny McGrath, Greenhouse Gas Smuggling Was as Lucrative as Cocaine In The \u201890s. It\u2019s Back- and the U.S. Government is Cracking Down With 2 New Arrests, <\/em>Business Insider, (Mar. 12, 2024), https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/greenhouse-gas-black-market-smuggling-hfc-arrests-crackdown-global-warming-2024- 3#:~:text=Greenhouse%20gas%20smuggling%20was%20as,down%20with%202%20new%20arrests.&text=An%20illegal%20trade%20in%20greenhouse,to%20close%20the%20ozone%20hole. https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/greenhouse-gas-black-market-smuggling-hfc-arrests-crackdown-global-warming-2024-.<\/p>\n [8]<\/a> EPA Announces Enforcement Actions to Control Hydrofluorocarbon Imports<\/em>, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, (Mar. 2. 2023), https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/newsreleases\/epa-announces-enforcement-actions-control-hydrofluorocarbon-imports.<\/p>\n [9]<\/a> California Man Arrested for Smuggling Potent Greenhouse Gases into the United States, <\/em>U.S. Department of Justice, (Mar. 4, 2024), https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/california-man-arrested-smuggling-potent-greenhouse-gases-united-states.<\/p>\n [10]<\/a> San Diego Man is First in the Nation to be Charged with Smuggling Potent Greenhouse Gases into the United States, <\/em>United States Attorney\u2019s Office Southern District of California, (Mar. 4, 2024), https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-sdca\/pr\/san-diego-man-first-nation-be-charged-smuggling-potent-greenhouse-gases-united-states.<\/p>\n [11]<\/a> Cheryl Hogue, HFC Smuggling Undermines Climate Efforts<\/em>, C&EN, (Nov. 11, 2021), https:\/\/cen.acs.org\/environment\/greenhouse-gases\/HFC-smuggling-undermines-climate-efforts\/99\/web\/2021\/11.<\/p>\n [12]<\/a> Rebecca Trager, First Prosecution in the US For Trafficking Greenhouse Gases<\/em>, <\/em>Chemistry World, (Mar. 8, 2024), https:\/\/www.chemistryworld.com\/news\/first-prosecution-in-the-us-for-trafficking-greenhouse-gases\/4019110.article.<\/p>\n [13]<\/a> Id<\/em>.<\/p>\n [14]<\/a> Emily Mae Czachor, San Diego Man is First in U.S. to be Charged with Smuggling Greenhouse Gases, <\/em>CBS News, (Mar. 5, 2024), https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/michael-hart-arrest-charge-smuggling-greenhouse-gases-hfcs-us-san-diego-california-mexico\/.<\/p>\n