Missing Freon could lead to probe

Adrienne Packer

Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2000 | 11:04 a.m.

An internal audit ordered last month by Clark County administrators who recently learned Freon removed from county buildings was never accounted for could lead to a criminal investigation.

More than $200,000 worth of Freon was extracted from air-conditioning systems at the Clark County Courthouse and the Bridger Building downtown in 1996, after the Environmental Protection Agency ordered governments to use a more environmentally safe gas.

The county, however, never received credit for the canisters of Freon, which officials believe contained thousands of pounds of the expensive gas.

"Enough questions have been raised that the Clark County manager has launched an investigation and has asked the DA's office to conduct that investigation," county spokesman Doug Bradford said Monday. The audit is expected to be completed by the week's end.

A private contractor was hired by the county's Facilities Services Department to remove the Freon from the two buildings. Bill Barrett, manager of facilities services, declined to comment on the investigation.

The contractor was required to properly dispose of the Freon -- an air-conditioning refrigerant that has ozone-threatening chemicals. But the county cannot find any sales receipts, evidence of receiving credit or any other paperwork, sources said.

"If the facts are true and we can find who was responsible and prove culpability, those individuals will be terminated," Bradford said.

Some believe the canisters were sold on the black market, where the gas is a hot commodity.

A 1996 international treaty to address the use of ozone-depleting chemicals prompted the United States to prohibit the importing and manufacturing of Freon.

Owners of older vehicles, however, are permitted to purchase recycled Freon. But with a dwindling supply, the cost has soared to $30 a pound wholesale and up to $60 a pound retail, according to local mechanics.

A 30-pound container -- which is how Freon is typically packaged -- costs about $750 wholesale.