EPA releases final refrigerant phase-down rule, proposes new rule

The EPA released its final rule regarding the HFC phase-down and proposed a new rule to better manage and reuse existing HFCs.

Background: The 2020 AIM Act authorized the EPA to address HFCs in three ways: (1) phasing down their production and consumption, (2) maximizing reclamation, and (3) facilitating the transition to next-generation technologies.

The two-part release is the next step in the process:

1. Final Rule: Technology Transitions

• The rule “bans HFCs in certain equipment and sets a limit on the global warming potentials (GWPs) of the HFCs that can be used in each subsector”.
  • You can find compliance dates and affected products by sector, including residential, in the tables here (page 6).
• There is a three-year sell-through period for these products based on their compliance dates, with the exception of components used to repair legacy systems, which have no restrictions.
• There are also no restrictions on the continued use of existing products or systems.

2. Proposed Rule: Managing Existing HFCs

• The rule proposes requirements for:
  • Repairing leaky equipment
  • Using reclaimed HFCs for certain equipment
  • Recovering HFCs from cylinders before their disposal
  • A container tracking system
• Details for each requirement (and others) are in the tables here (page 4).

What’s next: The EPA is accepting comments on the release for 60 days “after publication with the Federal Register”, which is still pending. To comment, visit the EPA’s contact page.