OSC Releases Findings on Clean Air Act Violations at Red River Army Depot

June 17, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C./June 16, 2026—The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) has notified the President that the Department of the Army’s findings in response to a whistleblower disclosure at the Red River Army Depot (RRAD) in Texarkana, Texas, appear reasonable.

The whistleblower, an Equipment Inspector at RRAD, reported that employees violated the Clean Air Act by improperly handling hydrochlorofluorocarbon-134a (HFC-134a), a flammable, pressurized air conditioning refrigerant.

The Army’s investigation substantiated the whistleblower’s allegations and found that two untrained contractors intentionally released HFC134a into the atmosphere; that refrigerant recovery equipment had not been properly maintained or certified; and that RRAD lacked on-site scales necessary to prevent overfilling recovery tanks. Personnel performing the work had also not received required training or certification.

As a result of the investigation’s findings, RRAD suspended all refrigerant operations and adopted corrective measures, including a new standard operating procedure, full training and certification, on-site scales, and improved tracking—bringing the Army into compliance with the Clean Air Act.

The whistleblower concurred with the investigation’s findings and commended the corrective measures, noting they will enhance safety, improve efficiency, and ensure higher-quality equipment for Army customers.

“We thank the whistleblower for bringing these violations to light. This disclosure enabled the Army to identify and address significant compliance issues,” said OSC Chief Counsel Charles Baldis. “We also appreciate the Army’s corrective actions, which have strengthened compliance and improved safety.”