# Title 23.1 — Environmental Quality

## Chapter 23.1-14 — Antifreeze Regulation

### § 23.1-14-01. Administration.

The department of environmental quality shall administer this chapter.
### § 23.1-14-02. Definitions.

In this chapter, unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires:
1. "Antifreeze" means any substance or preparation sold, distributed, or intended for use
as the cooling liquid, or to be added to the cooling liquid, in the cooling system of
internal combustion engines to prevent freezing of the cooling liquid, to lower its
freezing point, or to raise its boiling point.
2. "Department" means the department of environmental quality.
3. "Distribute" means to hold with intent to sell to the consumer, offer for sale, to sell,
barter, or otherwise supply.
4. "Label" means any display of written, printed, or graphic matter on, or attached to, a
package or the outside individual container or wrapper of the package.
5. "Package" means a sealed retail package, drum, or other container in which antifreeze
is distributed to the consumer or a container holding no more than fifty-five gallons
[208.20 liters] from which the antifreeze is directly installed in the cooling system by
seller or reseller.
### § 23.1-14-03. Registration - Penalty.

Before antifreeze may be distributed in this state, the manufacturer or person whose name
appears on the label shall apply to the department on forms provided by the department for
registration for each antifreeze the manufacturer or person whose name appears on the label
desires to distribute. All registrations expire on June thirtieth of each year. The application for
registration must be accompanied by an inspection fee of forty dollars for each product, and by
a label or other printed matter describing the product. Upon approval by the department, a copy
of the registration must be furnished to the applicant. The department shall remit inspection fees
received by the department to the state treasurer for deposit in the state general fund. A penalty
of fifty percent of the registration fee must be imposed if the certificate of registration is not
applied for on or before July first of each year or within the same month such antifreeze is first
manufactured or sold within this state.
### § 23.1-14-04. Adulteration.

Antifreeze is adulterated:
1. If, in the form in which it is sold and directed to be used, it would be injurious to the
cooling system of an internal combustion engine, or if, when used in the cooling
system of such an engine, it would make the operation of the engine dangerous to the
user; or
2. If its strength, quality, or purity falls below the standard of strength, quality, or purity
under which it is sold or offered for sale.
### § 23.1-14-05. Misbranding.

Antifreeze is misbranded:
1. If it does not bear a label which specifically identifies the product, states the name and
place of business of the registrant, states the net quantity of contents in terms of liquid
measure separately and accurately in a uniform location under the principal display
panel, and contains a statement warning of any hazard of substantial injury to human
beings which may result from the intended use or reasonably foreseeable misuse of
the antifreeze;
2. If the product is to be diluted with another substance for use and its labeling does not
contain a statement or chart showing appropriate amounts of each substance to be
used to provide protection from freezing at various degrees of temperature;

3. If the labeling contains a corrosion protection claim and does not include a statement
of the amount to be used to provide such protection;
4. If its labeling contains any claim that it has been approved or recommended by the
department; or
5. If its labeling is false, deceptive, misleading, or is illegal under any law.
### § 23.1-14-06. Rules and regulations.

The department may adopt reasonable rules and standards under chapter 28-32 as
necessary to administer this chapter.
### § 23.1-14-07. Inspection, sampling, and analysis.

The department may, at reasonable hours, enter, inspect, and examine all places and
property where antifreeze is stored or distributed for the purpose of taking reasonable samples
of antifreeze for analysis together with specimens of labeling. The department shall examine
promptly all samples received in connection with the administration and enforcement of this
chapter and report the results to the owner and the registrant of the antifreeze.
### § 23.1-14-08. Prohibited acts.

It is unlawful to:
1. Distribute any antifreeze that has not been registered under this chapter or for which
the label is different from that accepted for registration.
2. Distribute any antifreeze that is adulterated or misbranded.
3. Refuse to permit entry or inspection or refuse to permit the acquisition of a sample of
any antifreeze under this chapter.
4. Dispose of any antifreeze under "withdrawal from distribution" order under this chapter,
except as provided in this chapter.
5. Distribute any antifreeze unless it is in the registrant's or manufacturer's package,
except a distributor may obtain written authorization from the department annually to
distribute antifreeze in bulk using a container supplied by the customer, provided the
distributor attaches to the container a label bearing all of the information required by
this chapter.
6. Use the term "ethylene glycol" on the label of a product which contains other glycols
unless it is qualified by the word "base", "type", or wording of similar import and unless
the product contains a minimum ethylene glycol content of seventy-five percent by
regulation weight and a minimum total glycol content of ninety-three percent by weight.
The product also must have a corrected specific gravity to give reliable freezing point
readings on a commercial ethylene glycol type hydrometer and a freezing point, when
mixed with an equal volume of water, of thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit [35.56 degrees
Celsius] below zero or lower.
### § 23.1-14-09. Enforcement.

When the department finds any antifreeze being distributed in violation of this chapter or
any rules adopted under this chapter, it may issue and enforce a written or printed "withdrawal
from distribution" order, warning the distributor not to dispose of any of the lot of antifreeze in
any manner until written permission is given by the department or a court of competent
jurisdiction. Copies of the order must also be sent by registered or certified mail to the registrant
or to the person whose name and address appear on the label of the antifreeze. The
department shall release for distribution the lot of antifreeze so withdrawn upon compliance with
applicable rules, or for return to the registrant or the person whose name and address appears
on the label for reprocessing or relabeling as may be required. If compliance is not obtained
within thirty days, the department may begin proceedings for condemnation. Any lot of
antifreeze not in compliance with the law is subject to seizure upon complaint of the department
in the district court of the county in which it is located or in the district court of Burleigh County.

### § 23.1-14-10. Submission of formula.

The department may require an applicant for registration to furnish a statement of the
formula of the applicant's antifreeze, unless the applicant can furnish other satisfactory evidence
that the antifreeze is not adulterated or misbranded. The statement need not include inhibitor or
other ingredients that total less than five percent by weight of the antifreeze. All statements of
formula and other trade secrets furnished under this section are privileged and confidential and
may not be made public or open to the inspection of any persons other than the department. No
statement is subject to subpoena. Nor may a statement be exhibited or disclosed before any
administrative or judicial tribunal by virtue of any order or subpoena of such tribunal without the
consent of the applicant furnishing the statement to the department.
### § 23.1-14-11. Penalty.

Any person that violates or fails to comply with this chapter, for which another penalty has
not been specifically provided, is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.
### § 23.1-14-12. Prosecutions - State's attorney.

Each state's attorney to whom the department reports any violation of this chapter shall
institute appropriate proceedings in court without delay. However, nothing in this chapter may be
construed as requiring the department to report minor violations for the institution of
proceedings under this chapter whenever it believes the public interest will be served
adequately by suitable written notice or warning.
### § 23.1-14-13. Injunction proceedings.

In addition to other remedies, the department may apply to the district court of Burleigh
County for a temporary or permanent injunction restraining any person from violating a provision
of this chapter regardless of whether there exists an adequate remedy at law, and appropriate
costs must be taxed by the court for all expenses to the department for the injunctive
proceedings.
### § 23.1-14-14. Reports by department.

Except as otherwise provided, the department may publish reports of any analyses,
inspections, or research done under this chapter for the information of the public.
