As part of the deal, the drugmaker must reduce the output of ozone-depleting refrigerants at six facilities by July 2009. Various measures being taken will remove some 6,350 pounds of harmful hydrochloroflourocarbons, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency, which notes Bristol-Myers will take additional steps to assure compliance with the EPA regulations at 13 facilities.

Following an EPA request to ensure compliance with ozone-depletion regulations for Bristol-Myers’ Indiana facility, the drugmaker voluntarily conducted an audit of 25 of its other facilities and reported all potential violations that were discovered. The audit uncovered potential violations at facilities located in Connecticut, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Puerto Rico.

“Bristol-Myers Squibb has acted responsibly, not only to discover, document, and correct past violations, but to eliminate the use of potentially-damaging refrigerants in its operations,” Granta Nakayama, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, says in a statement. “These actions will help to protect the ozone layer, ensuring a safer environment for our future generations.”