Original Date: 02/23/1998
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

In 1991, Northrop Grumman implemented a Corporate Directive which mandated that all sites eliminate the production of all ozone depleting chemical materials and emissions over a five-year period. At the Military Aircraft Systems Division, 686 various production operations and 110 different materials containing Class 1 ozone depleting chemicals accounted for more than one million emission pounds annually. Today, Northrop Grumman has zero ozone depleting chemical emissions and uses no ozone depleting chemical materials in its production processes.

As a result of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) regulations, Department of Defense contract requirements, the Federal Clean Air Act, the Montreal Protocol, and the 1995 ban on the production and distribution of ozone depleting chemicals (ODCs), Northrop Grumman implemented Corporate Directive 128:TJM:93-064 in 1991. This Directive required the virtual elimination of the use of all ODC materials and emissions in the company’s 15 facilities over a five-year period.

Using 1991 as a baseline, 686 various production operations and 110 different materials containing Class 1 ODCs accounted for more than one million emission pounds at Northrop Grumman, Military Aircraft Systems Division (MASD). In general, these operations can be grouped into five major areas: degreasing (77.52%, painting (14.83%), gun cleaning (3.00%), wipe solvents (1.68%), and miscellaneous uses (2.97%). Over a five-year period, Northrop Grumman, MASD reduced its ODS emissions by a whopping 99.9%. The vast majority of these reductions (nearly 80%) can be attributed to a scheduled program, which decommissioned 1,1,1-trichloroethane vapor degreaser tanks and replaced them with water aqueous degreaser tank lines (Figure 2-1). The remaining reductions were accomplished through material and chemical substitutions; production process and manufacturing changes; and employee education programs. Today, the Northrop Grumman, El Segundo facility has zero ODC emissions and uses no ODC materials in its production processes.

By eliminating ODCs from the production processes, Northrop Grumman became fully compliant with the environmental regulations governing ODC materials, eliminated ODC emissions, and reduced production costs. In addition, the company improved the health and safety of its employees and customers, and contributed to a cleaner and healthier environment.

For more information see the Point of Contact for this survey.