California man arrested for smuggling potent greenhouse gases into the United States

Summary:

Michael Hart, a resident of San Diego, was arrested and charged with smuggling potent greenhouse gases, known as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), into the United States from Mexico. This is the first prosecution in the US related to the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 (AIM Act), which prohibits the importation of HFCs without EPA-issued allowances. The indictment alleges that Hart purchased HFCs in Mexico, smuggled them into the US, and sold them for profit online. The arrest highlights the EPA's efforts to prevent the illegal importation of refrigerants that contribute to climate change.