40 CFR Part 82, Subpart B - Servicing of Motor Vehicle Air Conditioners

The Clean Air Act prohibits the knowing release of ozone-depleting and substitute refrigerants during the course of maintaining, servicing, repairing, or disposing of appliances or industrial process refrigeration. The existing regulations require that persons maintaining, servicing, repairing, or disposing of air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment containing more than 50 pounds of refrigerant observe certain service practices that reduce emissions of ozone-depleting refrigerant. This rule updates those existing requirements as well as extends them, as appropriate, to non-ozone depleting substitute refrigerants, such as hydrofluorocarbons. Updates include strengthened leak repair requirements, recordkeeping requirements for the disposal of appliances containing more than five and less than 50 pounds of refrigerant, revisions to the technician certification program, and revisions for improved readability and compliance. As a result, this action reduces emissions of ozone-depleting substances and gases with high global warming potentials.

This determination of acceptability expands the list of acceptable substitutes pursuant to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. This action lists as acceptable additional substitutes for use in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector and fire suppression and explosion protection sectors.

This determination of acceptability expands the list of acceptable substitutes pursuant to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. This action lists as acceptable additional substitutes for use in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing that the period for providing public comments on the April 18, 2016, proposed “Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Proposed New Listings of Substitutes; Changes of Listing Status; and Reinterpretation of Unacceptability for Closed Cell Foam Products under the Significant New Alternatives Policy Program; and Revision of Clean Air Act Section 608 Venting Prohibition for Propane” is being extended by 14 days.

Pursuant to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Significant New Alternatives Policy program, this action proposes to list a number of substances as acceptable, subject to use conditions; to list several substances as unacceptable; and to modify the listing status for certain substances from acceptable to acceptable, subject to narrowed use limits, or to unacceptable . Specifically, this action proposes to list as acceptable, subject to use restrictions, propane and HFO-1234yf in the refrigeration and air conditioning, and 2-bromo-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-ene in the fire suppression and explosion protection sectors; to list as unacceptable certain hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon blends in specific end-uses in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector; and to modify the listing status for certain high-global warming potential alternatives for certain end-uses in the refrigeration and air conditioning, foam blowing, and fire suppression and explosion protection sectors. This action also proposes to exempt propane in certain refrigeration end-uses from the Clean Air Act section 608 prohibition on venting, release, or disposal on the basis of current evidence that its venting, release, or disposal does not pose a threat to the environment. In addition, this action proposes to apply unacceptability determinations for foam-blowing agents to closed cell foam products and products containing closed cell foam that are manufactured or imported using these foam-blowing agents. This action also proposes to clarify the listing for Powdered Aerosol D (Stat-X®), which is currently listed as both acceptable and acceptable subject to use conditions, by removing the listing as acceptable subject to use conditions .

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a final rule in the Federal Register of October 15, 2015, issuing critical use allowances for 2016 and making non-substantive corrections to the quarantine and preshipment recordkeeping and reporting requirements. This document restores provisions that were inadvertently removed by that final rule.

EPA issued a proposed rule in the Federal Register on November 9, 2015, proposing to update service practices that reduce emissions of ozone-depleting refrigerants as well as extend them, as appropriate, to non-ozone-depleting substitute refrigerants. The November 9, 2015, proposal provided for a 60-day public comment period ending January 8, 2016. EPA received requests from the public to extend this comment period. This document extends the comment period for 17 days, from January 8, 2016, to January 25, 2016.

The Clean Air Act prohibits the knowing release of ozone-depleting and substitute refrigerants during the course of maintaining, servicing, repairing, or disposing of appliances or industrial process refrigeration. The existing regulations require that persons servicing or disposing of air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment observe certain service practices that reduce emissions of ozone-depleting refrigerant. This proposed rule would update those existing requirements as well as extend them, as appropriate, to non-ozone-depleting substitute refrigerants, such as hydrofluorocarbons. The proposed updates include strengthening leak repair requirements, establishing recordkeeping requirements for the disposal of appliances containing five to 50 pounds of refrigerant, changes to the technician certification program, and changes for improved readability, compliance, and restructuring of the requirements. As a result, this action would reduce emissions of ozone-depleting substances and gases with high global warming potentials.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is authorizing uses that qualify for the critical use exemption and the amount of methyl bromide that may be produced or imported for those uses for the 2016 control period. EPA is issuing this action under the authority of the Clean Air Act to reflect consensus decisions of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer at the Twenty-Sixth Meeting of the Parties in November 2014.

This action changes the status from acceptable to unacceptable; acceptable, subject to use conditions; or acceptable, subject to narrowed use limits for a number of substitutes, pursuant to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Significant New Alternatives Policy program. We make these changes based on information showing that other substitutes are available for the same uses that pose lower risk overall to human health and the environment. Specifically, this action changes the listing status for certain hydrofluorocarbons in various end-uses in the aerosols, refrigeration and air conditioning, and foam blowing sectors. This action also changes the status from acceptable to unacceptable for certain hydrochlorofluorocarbons being phased out of production under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and section 605(a) of the Clean Air Act.

This determination of acceptability expands the list of acceptable substitutes pursuant to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. This action lists as acceptable additional substitutes for use in the refrigeration and air conditioning; foam blowing; solvent cleaning; aerosols; and adhesives, coatings, and inks sectors.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing uses that qualify for the critical use exemption and the amount of methyl bromide that may be produced or imported for those uses for the 2016 control period. EPA is proposing this action under the authority of the Clean Air Act to reflect consensus decisions of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer at the Twenty-Sixth Meeting of the Parties in November 2014.

Pursuant to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Significant New Alternatives Policy program, this action lists five flammable refrigerants as acceptable substitutes, subject to use conditions, in several end-uses: Household refrigerators and freezers, stand-alone retail food refrigeration equipment, very low temperature refrigeration, non-mechanical heat transfer, vending machines, and room air conditioning units. This action also exempts from Clean Air Act Section 608's prohibition on venting, release, or disposal the four hydrocarbon refrigerant substitutes listed in this action as acceptable, subject to use conditions, in specific end-uses. We are finalizing this exemption for those substitutes, subject to those use conditions and in those end-uses, on the basis of current evidence that their venting, release, or disposal does not pose a threat to the environment.

This rule extends the laboratory and analytical use exemption for the production and import of class I ozone-depleting substances through December 31, 2021. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking this action under the Clean Air Act, consistent with a recent decision of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. The exemption allows the production and import of controlled substances in the United States for laboratory and analytical uses that have not been already identified by EPA as nonessential.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to extend the laboratory and analytical use exemption for the production and import of class I ozone-depleting substances through December 31, 2021. This action is proposed under the Clean Air Act in anticipation of upcoming actions by the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. The exemption allows the production and import of controlled substances in the United States for laboratory and analytical uses that have not been already identified by EPA as nonessential.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is adjusting the allowance system for the consumption and production of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). Under the Clean Air Act, EPA is required to phase out production and import of these chemicals in accordance with the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Protocol). Under the Protocol, total United States HCFC production and consumption is capped, and will be completely phased out by 2030. Today's action announces the availability of annual production and consumption allowances for HCFC-22, HCFC-142b, HCFC-123, and HCFC-124 for 2015-2019. This rule also makes minor changes to the reclamation regulations, updates the use restrictions to account for a recent amendment to the Clean Air Act, and finalizes a de minimis exemption to the use restrictions for certain uses of HCFC-225ca/cb and HCFC-124.

This Determination of Acceptability expands the list of acceptable substitutes for ozone-depleting substances under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. This action lists as acceptable additional substitutes for use in the refrigeration and air conditioning, foam blowing, and fire suppression and explosion protection sectors.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing that the period for providing public comments on the August 6, 2014, proposed “Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Change of Listing Status for Certain Substitutes Under the Significant New Alternatives Policy Program” is being extended by 14 days.

Pursuant to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Significant New Alternatives Policy program, this action proposes to change the status of a number of substitutes that were previously listed as acceptable, based on information showing that other substitutes are available for the same uses that pose lower risk overall to human health and/or the environment. Specifically, this action proposes to modify the listings for certain hydrofluorocarbons in various end-uses in the aerosols, refrigeration and air conditioning, and foam blowing sectors. This action also proposes use conditions that would restrict the use of hydrofluorocarbons to those uses where there are not substitutes available or potentially available that reduce overall risk to human health and/or the environment. This action also proposes to change the status from acceptable to unacceptable for certain hydrochlorofluorocarbons being phased out of production under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and Section 605(a) of the Clean Air Act.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is authorizing uses that qualify for the critical use exemption and the amount of methyl bromide that may be produced or imported for those uses for both the 2014 and 2015 control periods. EPA is taking this action under the authority of the Clean Air Act to reflect consensus decisions of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer at the Twenty-Fourth and Twenty-Fifth Meetings of the Parties. EPA is also amending the regulatory framework to remove provisions related to sale of pre-phaseout inventory for critical uses.

Pursuant to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Significant New Alternatives Policy program, this action proposes to list a number of flammable refrigerants as acceptable substitutes, subject to use conditions, for ozone-depleting substances in several end-uses: Household refrigerators and freezers, stand-alone commercial refrigerators and freezers, very low temperature refrigeration, non-mechanical heat transfer, vending machines, and room air conditioning units. This action also proposes to exempt from Clean Air Act Section 608's prohibition on venting, release, or disposal the hydrocarbon refrigerant substitutes that we are proposing to list in this action as acceptable subject to use conditions in specific end-uses. We are proposing this exemption on the basis of current evidence that their venting, release, or disposal would not pose a threat to the environment.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, the Agency) is amending the regulations promulgated as part of the National Recycling and Emission Reduction Program under section 608 of the Clean Air Act. EPA is amending those regulations to exempt certain refrigerant substitutes, listed as acceptable subject to use conditions in regulations promulgated as part of EPA's Significant New Alternative Policy program under section 612 of the Act, from the prohibition under section 608 on venting, release or disposal on the basis of current evidence that their venting, release or disposal does not pose a threat to the environment. Specifically, EPA is exempting from the venting prohibition isobutane (R-600a) and R-441A, as refrigerant substitutes in household refrigerators, freezers, and combination refrigerators and freezers, and propane (R-290), as a refrigerant substitute in retail food refrigerators and freezers (stand-alone units only).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing uses that qualify for the critical use exemption (CUE) and the amount of methyl bromide that may be produced or imported for those uses for both the 2014 and 2015 control periods. EPA is proposing this action under the authority of the Clean Air Act to reflect consensus decisions taken by the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer at the Twenty-Fourth and Twenty-Fifth Meetings of the Parties. EPA is also proposing to amend the regulatory framework to remove provisions related to sale of pre-phaseout inventory for critical uses. EPA is seeking comment on the list of critical uses, on EPA's determination of the specific amounts of methyl bromide that may be produced and imported for those uses, and on the amendments to the regulatory framework.

As part of the President's Climate Action Plan and ongoing efforts within the US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), the Interagency Crosscutting Group on Climate Change and Human Health (CCHHG) and a subset of the Interagency National Climate Assessment Working Group (INCA) have initiated an interagency Special Report on the impacts of observed and projected climate change on human health in the United States. This data-driven technical synthesis and assessment will be an interagency product of the USGCRP organized by the CCHHG. This request for public engagement presents opportunities to submit comments on the Draft Report Prospectus, scientific information to inform the assessment, and nominations for contributing authors, and announces a Public Forum to Inform the Interagency Special Report on the Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States.

EPA is seeking comment on options for adjusting the allowance system controlling United States consumption and production of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). Under Title VI of the Clean Air Act, EPA is required to phase out production and import of these chemicals in accordance with United States obligations under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Protocol). Under the Protocol and the Clean Air Act, total United States HCFC production and consumption is capped, and will be completely phased out by 2030. Beginning January 1, 2015, United States production and consumption of all HCFCs must be no more than ten percent of the established cap. Existing EPA regulations prohibit production and consumption of HCFC-22 and HCFC-142b as of January 1, 2020. At that time, all other HCFC production and consumption must not exceed 0.5 percent of the cap, and is limited to use as a refrigerant in existing air conditioning and refrigeration equipment. Given these requirements, EPA is seeking comment on how best to implement the 2015 stepdown to no more than 10 percent of the cap. Since the beginning of the HCFC phaseout program, the agency has tried to ensure a smooth transition out of HCFCs into non-ozone depleting alternatives. Essential to a smooth transition are the recycling and emissions reductions requirements mandated by section 608 of the Clean Air Act. This proposal also includes a request for comment on potential changes to regulations promulgated under that authority, found in 40 CFR part 82 subpart F. In addition to taking comment on the implementation of phaseout requirements and proposed changes to section 608 regulations, the agency is also highlighting important Clean Air Act requirements that take effect in 2015, specifically the section 611 labeling requirements and the section 605 restrictions on HCFC use and introduction into interstate commerce.

EPA is authorizing uses that qualify for the 2013 critical use exemption (CUE) and specifying the amount of methyl bromide that may be produced or imported for those uses. EPA is also amending the regulatory framework to remove certain requirements related to sale of pre-phaseout inventory for critical uses. EPA is taking this action under the authority of the Clean Air Act to reflect a consensus decision taken by the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer at the Twenty-Third Meeting of the Parties.

EPA is amending its regulations to reflect a change in address for EPA's Region 7 office. This action is editorial in nature and is intended to provide accuracy and clarity to the Agency's regulations.

This Determination of Acceptability expands the list of acceptable substitutes for ozone-depleting substances under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. The determinations concern new substitutes for use in the refrigeration and air conditioning; foam blowing; solvent cleaning; adhesives, coatings and inks; and fire suppression sectors.

Pursuant to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Significant New Alternatives Policy program, this action lists C7 Fluoroketone as an acceptable substitute, subject to narrowed use limits, for ozone-depleting substances used as streaming agents in the fire suppression and explosion protection sector. The program implements Section 612 of the Clean Air Act, as amended in 1990, which requires the Agency to evaluate substitutes and find them acceptable where they pose comparable or lower overall risk to human health and the environment than other available substitutes.

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to amend the regulations promulgated as part of the National Recycling and Emission Reduction Program under section 608 of the Clean Air Act. EPA is proposing to exempt from the prohibition under section 608 on venting, release and disposal certain refrigerant substitutes listed as acceptable or acceptable subject to use conditions in regulations promulgated as part of EPA's Significant New Alternative Policy Program under section 612 of the Act on the basis of current evidence that their venting, release and disposal does not pose a threat to the environment.

EPA is adjusting the allowance system controlling U.S. consumption and production of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) as a result of a 2010 Court decision vacating a portion of the 2009 final rule titled “Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Adjustments to the Allowance System for Controlling HCFC Production, Import, and Export.” EPA interprets the Court's vacatur as applying to the part of the rule that establishes the company-by-company baselines and calendar year allowances for HCFC-22 and HCFC-142b. On August 5, 2011, EPA published an interim final rule allocating allowances for 2011. Today's action relieves the regulatory ban on production and consumption of these two chemicals following the Court's vacatur by establishing company-by-company HCFC-22 and HCFC-142b baselines and allocating production and consumption allowances for 2012-2014.

This Determination of Acceptability expands the list of acceptable substitutes for ozone-depleting substances under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. This action lists as acceptable four additional substitutes for use in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector; two additional substitutes in the foam blowing sector; one additional substitute in the solvent cleaning sector; two additional substitutes in the aerosol sector; and one additional substitute in the fire suppression sector.

Pursuant to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program, this action lists carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) or R-744, as acceptable substitute, subject to use conditions, in the motor vehicle air conditioning (MVAC) end-use for motor vehicles (i.e., passenger cars, light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles) within the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector. This final rule only concerns the use of CO 2 in MVAC systems designed specifically for the use of CO 2 refrigerant. The substitute is non-ozone-depleting and therefore does not contribute to stratospheric ozone depletion.

EPA is authorizing uses that qualify for the 2012 critical use exemption and the amount of methyl bromide that may be produced, imported, or supplied from existing pre-phaseout inventory for those uses in 2012. EPA is taking this action under the authority of the Clean Air Act to reflect a recent consensus decision by the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer at the Twenty-Second Meeting of the Parties.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to revise one of the use conditions required for use of hydrofluoroolefin (HFO)-1234yf (2,3,3,3-tetrafluoroprop-1-ene), a substitute for ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) in the motor vehicle air conditioning end-use within the refrigeration and air conditioning sector, to be acceptable subject to use conditions under EPA's Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. The revised use condition incorporates by reference a revised standard from SAE International.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to revise one of the use conditions required for use of hydrofluoroolefin (HFO)-1234yf (2,3,3,3-tetrafluoroprop-1-ene), a substitute for ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) in the motor vehicle air conditioning end-use within the refrigeration and air conditioning sector, as acceptable subject to use conditions under the EPA's Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. The revised use condition incorporates by reference a revised standard from SAE International. In the “Rules and Regulations” section of this Federal Register, we are revising a use condition for use of HFO-1234yf in motor vehicle air conditioning as a direct final rule without a prior proposed rule. If we receive no adverse comment, we will not take further action on this proposed rule.