Final answer:
A person convicted of releasing CFCs/HCFCs/HFCs can receive imprisonment, reflecting the serious legal repercussions of this environmental crime and the international effort to protect the ozone layer as embodied by the Montreal Protocol. Therefore, correct option is a.
Step-by-step explanation:
In addition to a fine on a first conviction for the release of CFCs/HCFCs/HFCs into the atmosphere, which are substances known to deplete the ozone layer, a person can also receive imprisonment.
Releasing these substances into the environment is a serious environmental crime, and as such, can be met with stringent penalties including imprisonment — a fact that underscores the global commitment to protecting the ozone layer.
This global dedication is evidenced by the Montreal Protocol, an international treaty signed in 1987 to phase out the production of ozone-depleting substances.
The effectiveness of the Montreal Protocol is seen in the general trend towards recovery of the ozone layer, although challenges like CFC "banks" and variability in the ozone hole size remain.