Rebecca von dem Hagen Stratospheric Protection Division

Office of Atmospheric Programs U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

# EPA Update MACS 2016 Training Event and Trade Show Orlando, Florida February 12, 2016

###  

## Background  

## Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program  

### Recent Actions & Future Considerations  

## Proposed Updates to CAA Section 608  

## Other HFC Activities  

### Federal Procurement  

### International Activities  

## Other MVAC Updates 

# Scope of Presentation

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# Clean Air Act (CAA) Title VI Regulations on Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning (MVAC)  

### Section 612: Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program  

### SNAP evaluates and lists MVAC refrigerants as acceptable subject to use conditions or unacceptable based on comparison of overall risk to human health & the environment  

### Section 609: Servicing of Motor V ehicle Air Conditioners  

### Requires technician certification & use of approved servicing equipment  

### Section 608: Recyling and Emissions Reductions  

### Prohibits intentional venting of any refrigerant, unless specifically exempted  

### Restricts sale of ODS refrigerant to certified technicians  

### Requires recovery of refrigerant prior to disposal 3

# MVAC Refrigerant Transition Environmental Impacts of MVAC Refrigerants Global Warming Potential Ozone Depleting? CFC- 12 10,900 Yes HFC- 134a 1,430 No HFC- 152a 124 No HFO - 1234yf 4 No CO 2 (R-744) 1 No 4

# Climate Action Plan: HFCs  

### President’s Climate Action Plan released June 2013  

### Address HFCs through domestic actions  Use existing CAA authority of Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program to approve climate -friendly chemicals, prohibit some uses of most harmful  Provide federal leadership by purchasing cleaner alternatives to HFCs whenever feasible and by transitioning to equipment using safe, more sustainable alternatives  

### Continue international diplomacy  Lead negotiations under the Montreal Protocol to phase down HFCs  Work with partners in the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants to promote climate -friendly alternatives to high- GWP HFCs, address technical standards, and reduce emissions from HFC use 5

# Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program• Acceptable - those that reduce overall risk to human health & environment • Acceptable with use restrictions - if needed to ensure safe use • Unacceptable 

## Evaluates alternatives & lists alternatives as:

• Aerosols; Foams; Refrigeration and A/C; Solvents; Fire Suppression; Adhesives, Coatings, Inks, etc. 

## Sectors include:

• Ozone Depletion Potential • Global Warming Potential • Flammability • Toxicity 

## Considers: • Local Air Quality • Ecosystem Effects • Occupational & Consumer Health/Safety 7

# Recent SNAP Actions

 

### Issued two notices expanding list of acceptable alternatives  

### Proposed and finalized rule listing five low- GWP flammable refrigerants acceptable subject to use conditions for stationary applications  

### Proposed and finalized rule prohibiting specific HFCs in certain end -uses  

### HFC Emissions Reductions: 54 - 64 MMTCO2eq in 2025 Near term changes can provide both near and long term benefits

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# July 2015 Change of Status Rule Overview

• HFC - 125 - January 2016 • HFC - 227ea & blends - July 20, 2016 • HFC - 134a - July 20, 2016/January 1, 2018 Aerosols

• HFC - 134a in New Light- Duty Systems - MY 2021 • HCFC & HFC Containing Blends in New Light- Duty Systems - MY 2017 Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning • New Supermarket Systems - January 2017 • New Remote Condensing Units - January 2018 • New Vending Machines - January 2019 • New Stand - Alone Units (small medium - temp, large medium - temp, low- temp) - January 2019/January 2020 • Retrofitted Retail Food Refrig Equipment and Vending Machines - July 20, 2016 Retail Food Refrigeration & Vending Machines

• All End - Uses, Except Rigid PU Spray Foam - Various dates between January 2017 -January 2021 Foams 9

# July 2015 Change of Status Rule: MVAC Refrigerants Final Rule Listed:  

### HFC - 134a unacceptable  

### As of MY 2021  

### New, light- duty vehicles only  

### Narrowed use limits finalized for export vehicles  Available through MY 2025  Limited to vehicles exported to countries lacking infrastructure for servicing alternative refrigerants  

### Several HFC and HCFC refrigerant blends unacceptable  

### As of MY 2017  

### New, light- duty vehicles only 

## Use of HFC - 134a and refrigerant blends for servicing not impacted 10

# Next SNAP Proposed Rule: MVAC Refrigerants for HD

11  

### Next SNAP proposed rule under interagency review  Sept. 11 SNAP Stakeholder Meeting  Nov. 18 Heavy- duty (HD) MVAC Stakeholder Workshop  New listings of alternatives as acceptable subject to use conditions or unacceptable, and changes to listing statuses for variety of chemicals and end - uses  

### EPA is considering to propose listing HFO - 1234yf acceptable, subject to use conditions, for limited HD vehicle types e.g.,:

 Medium - duty passenger vehicles (MDPVs)  HD pickup trucks  Complete HD vans  

### HFO - 1234yf listed as acceptable, subject to use conditions, in newly manufactured passenger vehicles and light- duty trucks in 2011  

### CO 2 

### (R- 744) and HFC - 152a are listed as acceptable, subject to use conditions, in all new MVAC systems, including HD

# HD Vehicle Classifications by Gross V ehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) Class 2b 3 4 5 6 7 8 GVWR (lb) 8,501 - 10,000 10,001 - 14,000 14,001 - 16,000 16,001 - 19,500 19,501 - 26,000 26,001 - 33,000 > 33,000

# Proposed Updates to Clean Air Act Section 608 National Recycling and Emission Reduction Program

# CAA Section 608 Regulations  

## Current requirements include:  

### Prohibition against knowingly venting refrigerant (all refrigerants unless exempt)  

### Leak repair and prevention for larger systems (for CFCs, HCFCs)  

### Service practice requirements (for CFCs, HCFCs)  

### Safe disposal requirements (for CFCs, HCFCs)  

## Nov. 2015 EPA proposed updates intended to:  

### Extend Section 608 requirements to HFCs and other non - exempt substitutes  

### Decrease leaks from large appliances  

### Enhance clarity and ease of compliance  

### Continue to create incentives that support careful management of refrigerants 14

###  

## Extension of sales restriction  

### Restrict sale of refrigerants that are not exempt from the venting prohibition to 608 and 609 certified technicians only  

## Exemption to sales restriction for small cans for MVAC servicing if equipped with self -sealing valve  

### Small can = 2 pounds or less  

### Cans with self - sealing valve currently in production to meet CA regulations  

### EPA proposed self - sealing valve standards based on those required in CA  

## Distributors would have to keep refrigerant sales records and verify purchasers are (or employ) 608 or 609 certified technicians  

## Non- exempt refrigerant must be recovered prior to disposal 

# Proposed Changes to CAA Section 608 Impacting MVAC

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### • 

## Federal Procurement • 

## International Efforts 

# Other HFC Activities

# HFCs: Federal Procurement  

## Climate Action Plan directive to provide federal leadership by purchasing “cleaner alternatives to HFCs whenever feasible and transition over time to equipment that uses safer and more sustainable alternatives”  

## Proposed rule addressing HFCs by amending Federal Acquisition Regulation directing the government to procure alternatives to high- GWP HFCs, where feasible

 

### Use acceptable alternatives identified by SNAP program  

### Reporting on use of HFCs (i.e., refrigerants)  

### Final rule expected in 2016 17 U.S. Federal Sector: Fleet inventory (owned/leased) : >635,000 vehicles 1 1 U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) 2013. Index of Data, Federal Fleet Report for FY 2013.

# HFCs: International Efforts  

## The United States, with Canada and Mexico, has been pursuing an Amendment to phasedown HFCs under the Montreal Protocol

 

## Phase DOWN, not OUT  

## In November 2015, Parties reached an agreement on a pathway to work to an HFC amendment in 2016

 

## A 2016 amendment to the Montreal Protocol to phasedown HFCs will achieve substantial greenhouse gas reductions and could avoid up to 0.5 degrees Celsius of warming by 2100  

## Amending the Montreal Protocol will pave the way for all countries to transition to alternatives and away from highGWP HFCs 18

# Other MVAC Updates

# Other MVAC- Specific Activities  

## New website! www.epa.gov/mvac  Improved content and removed outdated materials 

###  

## Intend to propose to Incorporate by Reference (IBR) new SAE standards for servicing equipment through rulemaking

 SAE J2843 R - 1234yf Recovery/Recycling/ Recharging Equipment for Flammable Refrigerants for Mobile Air- Conditioning Systems  SAE J2851 Recovery Equipment for Contaminated R - 134a or R - 1234yf Refrigerant from Mobile Automotive Air Conditioning Systems  SAE J 3030 Automotive Refrigerant Recovery/Recycling/Recharging Equipment Intended for use with Both R - 1234yf and R - 134a 

###  

## Updates to Section 609 Technician Certification and Training Programs under Review 20

# Thank You! Contact Information: Rebecca von dem Hagen vondemhagen.rebecca@epa.gov (202) 343 - 9445