"California Man Charged with Smuggling Greenhouse Gases in Landmark Case"

A man from Southern California has been charged with smuggling refrigerants from Mexico into the U.S., making him the first person to be prosecuted for violating regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The indictment alleges that Michael Hart smuggled ozone-depleting chemicals and posted them for sale online, in violation of a 2020 law that prohibits the importation of hydrofluorocarbons without permission from the EPA. This marks the first prosecution in the U.S. to include charges related to illegal importation of greenhouse gases, signaling a commitment to protecting the environment from harmful pollutants.