By Kelly Cloonan
The Justice Department said it reached a proposed settlement with Kroger to resolve allegations that the grocery-store operator violated the Clean Air Act.
Under the proposed consent decree, Kroger would spend an estimated $100 million over the next three years to reduce coolant leaks from refrigerators and other equipment, as well as improve company-wide compliance with emissions rules. Kroger would also pay a $2.5 million civil penalty, the DOJ said Wednesday.
The proposed settlement would resolve allegations that Kroger failed to promptly repair refrigerant-equipment leaks between 2014 and 2023, and that it failed to keep adequate refrigeration service records, the DOJ said.
The settlement would require Kroger to retrofit or replace 600 large commercial refrigeration systems at its stores to reduce ozone-depleting emissions, as well as implement a refrigerant-management system to help prevent and repair coolant leaks.
The consent decree was filed with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. It is subject to a 30-day public comment period.
Kroger didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Write to Kelly Cloonan at kelly.cloonan@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
04-29-26 1838ET
