Base
RuleSignificant2016-242152016-11-18

Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Update to the Refrigerant Management Requirements Under the Clean Air Act

Environmental Protection Agency

Abstract

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.

Action & Dates

Action
Final rule.
Dates
This final rule is effective on January 1, 2017. The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of on January 1, 2017. This rule contains information collection activities that have been submitted for approval to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). Under the PRA, comments on the information collection provisions are best assured of consideration if the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) receives a copy of your comments on or before December 19, 2016.
Effective Date
2017-01-01

CFR References

Topics

Air pollution controlChemicalsEnvironmental protectionIncorporation by referenceReporting and recordkeeping requirements

Public Comment

Comments Close
2016-12-19

Document Excerpt

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Environmental Protection Agency 40 CFR Part 82 [EPA-HQ-OAR-2015-0453; FRL-9950-28-OAR] RIN 2060-AS51 AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: 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. DATES: This final rule is effective on January 1, 2017. The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of on January 1, 2017. This rule contains information collection activit

Read full document on FederalRegister.gov →

Related Documents

Other Federal Register documents from the same docket.

Full Document

Citation: 81 FR 82272