SNAP Stakeholder Meeting 

August 22, 2013

August 22, 2013 1
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 CO2, 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 CO2eq 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

August 22, 2013 10
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

August 22, 2013 15
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