# SNAP Stakeholder Meeting August 22, 2013

 1 August 22, 2013

# Today’s Agenda
 Welcome  Opening Remarks Sarah Dunham, Director Office of Atmospheric Programs 

###  Climate Action Plan & HFCs Drusilla Hufford, Director Stratospheric Protection Division 

###  The SNAP Program Cindy Newberg, Chief Alternatives & Emissions Reduction Branch 

###  Discussion Moderated by Sarah Dunham 

###  Complementary Approaches  Discussion Moderated by Drusilla Hufford 

###  Additional Discussion  Wrap Up & Next Steps Sarah Dunham, Director Office of Atmospheric Programs August 22, 2013 2

# Scope of Meeting

• Background:

– Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and The President’s Climate Action Plan • Key Questions:

– How can SNAP encourage private - sector investment in low - emissions technology by identifying and approving climate - friendly alternatives?

– How should SNAP consider “prohibiting certain uses of the most harmful chemical alternatives” • How can EPA provide a degree of certainty for future investments?



### – What complementary approaches should EPA consider? August 22, 2013 3

# Overview of the Climate Action Plan and HFCs

August 22, 2013 4

# What are HFCs?

• HFCs are synthetic fluorinated greenhouse gases (GHGs) • Use and emissions of HFCs are growing rapidly, because they are replacement for ozone - depleting substances (ODS) being phased out under the Montreal Protocol • HFCs are used in:

– Air - Conditioning (A/C)

– Refrigeration

– Foam Blowing

– Fire Suppression

– Aerosols

– Solvents August 22, 2013 5 UNEP, 2011

# Why is Growing HFC Use a Concern?
• Growth tied to the phaseout of ODS and global increased use of A/C, especially in developing countries

– Globally, emissions increased by about 8% per year, 2004 to 2008; unchecked, emissions could rise to nearly 20% of total carbon dioxide emissions by 2050

– In the U.S., HFC emissions expected to triple 2005 - 2030 

### • Most HFCs are potent greenhouse gases with global warming potentials (GWPs) 100s to 1,000s times greater than that of CO 2 

### , pound for pound

– E.g.; HFC - 134a GWP = 1,430; blends such as R - 507a GWP = 3,985, R - 404a GWP = 3,922

August 22, 2013 6

# What Does the President’s Climate Action Plan Say About HFCs 

# ? • Continue International Diplomacy

– Lead negotiations under the Montreal Protocol to phase down HFCs • Global phase down could reduce over 90 gigatons of CO 2 eq by 2050 , equal to roughly two years' worth of current global GHG emissions

– 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 standards, & reduce emissions from HFC use 

### • Address Through Domestic Actions

– Use existing Clean Air Act authority of Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program to approve climate - friendly chemicals, prohibit some uses of most harmful

August 22, 2013 7 – Provide federal leadership by purchasing cleaner alternatives to HFCs whenever feasible and by transitioning to equipment using safer, more sustainable alternatives

# Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program

August 22, 2013 8

# Progress Under SNAP

• U.S. Framework for smoothing transition to safer alternatives since 1994, seamless from consumer perspective • Expanding Menu of Options

– Meeting safe health and environmental protection criteria

– Reducing ODS/GHG emissions

– Managing U.S. transition to promote certainty and stability while encouraging continuing innovation

– Promoting responsible practices to reduce emissions 

### • Unique Review Program Supporting Global Transition • Sector - Focused Coordination

– Long - standing cooperation with U.S. Stakeholders

– Work supporting national/international standards and codes revisions, removing barriers to adoption of alternatives August 22, 2013 9

# Identifying Safer Alternatives SNAP Program • Evaluates substitutes that reduce overall risk to human health & environment in industrial sectors

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

### • 400+ substitutes reviewed considering:

– Ozone - Depleting Potential

– Global Warming Potential

– Flammability

– Toxicity

– Local Air Quality

– Ecosystem Effects

– Occupational & Consumer Health/Safety 10 August 22, 2013

# SNAP Process

August 22, 2013 11

# What the Climate Action Plan Means for SNAP • Prioritize review of alternatives that are safer for the climate

– Within not instead of the context of SNAP’s broader criteria

– Innovative companies have invested in low - GWP alternatives

– Forward - leaning manufacturers of advanced technologies and equipment can provide near - term reductions in emissions 

### • Support, fit within, broader HFC strategy

– Listing additional low - GWP options positions U.S. industries to better meet potential future phasedown steps

– Responds to federal procurement needs to “purchase cleaner alternatives to HFCs whenever feasible”
August 22, 2013 12

# Where to Focus First?

• Where alternatives are being used, available already for many end - uses

– Percent of market already in alternatives, is transition feasible for additional market segments?

– Is there one alternative or multiple – allowing trust and choice?

– Are alternatives safer for human health and the environment?

– Do other alternatives meet stringent technical demands for particular end - uses?

– Other considerations?

August 22, 2013 13

# Other Factors Stakeholders Have Raised
• Different end - uses need different lead times to change to alternatives

– Will EPA continue to consider the intersection between the end - use and the alternative? 

### • Will existing equipment be able to be serviced?

– Will EPA consider the useful lifetimes of equipment? 

### • What would be the frequency of reviews for lists or specific chemicals?

– Specific time periods?

– Percent of market already in alternatives?

– Other options?
August 22, 2013 14

# What is EPA Considering? • Intersection between specific chemicals & end - uses

– Suite of alternatives varies sector by sector and also end - use by end - use 

### • Where it’s feasible to move to lower - GWP alternatives

– Where investments already have brought climate - friendly alternatives to the market

– Where current listings include obsolete high - GWP HFCs and blends 

### • Has EPA made decisions on what previous listings to revisit?

– No, EPA is considering a range of end - uses and seeks stakeholder input

– Amongst end - uses under consideration: consumer aerosol products, certain foams, commercial refrigeration, and motor vehicle air - conditioning 15 August 22, 2013

# Discussions

August 22, 2013 16 

##  The SNAP Program

 Complementary Approaches

 Additional Discussion

# Wrap Up / Next Steps

August 22, 2013 17

# SNAP Stakeholder Meeting August 22, 2013

 August 22, 2013  18