NZ Engineers Convicted for Depleting Ozone Layer

NZ engineers convicted for depleting ozone layer
Thu Jun 19, 2008 8:39am EDT 

WELLINGTON (Reuters) – Two refrigeration engineers have been convicted by a New Zealand court for depleting the ozone layer.

The country’s Ministry for Economic Development prosecuted the two men in the first ever case taken under a 1996 law protecting the ozone layer.

The pair released an ozone depleting substance, chlorodifluoromethane HCFC22, into the atmosphere as they were repairing a drinks chiller, and ignored a warning that it was hazardous.

The Ministry said it took the case as a warning to industry. The two were convicted and fined NZ$750 each ($568).

Permits are needed to handle HCFCs, which will be banned under an international agreement from 2015.

(Editing by Alex Richardson)

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