Tag: HFCs

CourtWatch: D.C. Circuit Hands Trade Associations Win in HFC Case

In June 2023, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an opinion in Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International, et al. v. EPA that eliminated the Agency’s authority to enact “complementary” implementation measures regarding the regulation of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs). The ruling also upheld the EPA’s authority to regulate HFCs and HFOs. […]

Phasing Down Hydrofluorocarbons

On October 20, 2022, the EPA announced additional actions, including a proposed rule, for the phasedown of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which, according to an Agency news release, are a “crucial component of President Biden’s ambitious agenda to combat the climate crisis while advancing American manufacturing and innovation.” The proposed rule sets a 40% reduction for 2024 […]

Kigali Amendment for HFC Emissions Gets Senate Approval

Last month, the U.S. Senate consented to ratification of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. The vote, 69–27, showed strong bipartisan support for the measure. The United States will soon join 137 other countries that have already ratified the Kigali Amendment, according to a media note issued […]

Refrigerants, fridge

HFC Phasedown Announced by EPA

The EPA is proposing to phase down the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are highly potent greenhouse gases (GHGs) commonly used in refrigerators, air conditioners, and many other applications. This is the EPA’s first proposed ruling under the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act of 2020.

Refrigerant Recordkeeping and Reporting

We recently encountered a list of the 10 most common Clean Air Act (CAA) violations, which included failure of facilities to track the loss of regulated refrigerants from equipment. (Seven of the other violations relate to permits.) In fact, tracking the loss of a refrigerant and recordkeeping in general are major responsibilities under EPA’s refrigerant […]

The What and When of Revised Refrigerant Regulations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently finalized broad changes to its refrigerant management regulations under 40 CFR 82. Those owning, operating, maintaining, servicing, repairing, or disposing of air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment will all be impacted by these revisions. The most significant change extends the regulations for ozone-depleting refrigerants to non-ozone- depleting substitutes through an […]

EPA Finalizes Two Major Actions Addressing HFCs

In anticipation of international adoption of an amendment to the Montreal Protocol and also in fulfillment of parts of President Obama’s June 2013 Climate Action Plan (CAP), the EPA has issued two final rules that will reduce releases of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) to the atmosphere.