40 CFR Part 82, Subpart H - Halon Emissions Reduction

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 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.