EPA cites food manufacturer

A local food-manufacturing company faces a possible $108,320 fine for 12 violations of the federal Clean Air Act, according to a complaint filed by the Environmental Protection Agency’s New England office. The federal agency alleges that Cedar’s Mediterranean Foods Inc. violated the act’s Stratospheric Ozone Protection regulations, which cover industrial refrigeration equipment that contains ozone-depleting refrigerant. The EPA inspected Cedar’s facility in the Ward Hill section in July 2010 and found that the company had violated federal regulations in regards to its industrial refrigerator, which contains 8,000 pounds of the refrigerant R-22. The allegations involved requirements to repair leaks, perform initial and follow-up tests after repairing leaks, and keep equipment-servicing records. The agency has ordered Cedar’s, which is incorporated in New Hampshire but has its main facility on Foundation Avenue, to remedy the violations. - Brenda J. Buote