Margaret Sheppard, Environmental Scientist Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program Office of Atmospheric Programs U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

# EPA Regulation of Foam Blowing Agents

February 11, 2016

# Overview of Presentation
 

## President’s Climate Action Plan and Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)  

## SNAP program actions • 

## Recent actions • 

## Future considerations  

## Next Steps

2

# Why are HFCs a Concern?

3 

###  

### HFCs are synthetic fluorinated greenhouse gases  

### Use and emissions of HFCs are growing rapidly, because they are replacement for ozone

- depleting substances being phased out under the Montreal Protocol  

### Globally , emissions increased by about 8% per year, 2004 to 2008; unchecked, emissions could rise to as much as 20% of total carbon 

### dioxide emissions by 2050  

### In the U.S., HFC emissions expected to triple 2005

- 2030 UNEP 2011

# Climate Action Plan: HFCs  

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

### Address HFCs 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  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  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 ShortLived Climate Pollutants to promote climate

-friendly alternatives to high

- GWP HFCs, address technical standards, and reduce emissions from HFC use 4• 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 5

# Recent SNAP Actions

 

## Issued two acceptability notices adding alternatives  

### Includes HFO

- 1336mzz(Z) 

### for high

-pressure two -part spray foam only  

## Published Status Change 

## Rule prohibiting certain HFCs in certain end

-uses  

### Did not include rigid PU spray foam  

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

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# Final Changes of Status for Blowing Agents

7 End-Use Unacceptable/Restricted Substitutes Transition Date Spray Polyurethane (PU) N/A N/A Commercial Refrigeration and Sandwich Panels HFC
- 134a, HFC
- 245fa, HFC
- 365mfc & blends thereof; Formacel TI, Formacel Z
- 6 January 1, 2020* * Except January 1, 2022 only in certain military, space and aeronautics applications Appliance January 1, 2020* Marine Flotation January 1, 2020* Slabstock January 1, 2019* Integral Skin January 1, 2017* Flexible PU HFC
- 134a, HFC
- 245fa, HFC
- 365mfc & blends thereof January 1, 2017* PU and Polyisocyanurate Boardstock January 1, 2017* All Blends of HCFC

- 141b 60 days after final rule published

# Future SNAP Actions  

## EPA has developed proposed rule, currently under interagency review:  

## Listing acceptable alternatives with use conditions  Use conditions would mitigate risks, e.g., flammability, exposure limits 

###  

## Listing of unacceptable alternatives  Where risks cannot be mitigated sufficiently, e.g., flammability, toxicity, air quality impacts, climate 

###  

## Change of listing status from acceptable to unacceptable  End

-uses based on stakeholder comments, EPA analysis  Refrigeration and A/C: HFCs in chillers, refrigerated food processing and dispensing, household refrigerators/freezers, cold storage warehouse, MVAC  Fire suppression  

### Foams: HFCs in rigid PU spray foam; various uses of methylene chloride 8

# Next Steps

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##  

# Continue to expand SNAP acceptable list  

# Continue to work with stakeholders  

# Develop next SNAP Notice for acceptable listings  

# Publish and take comment on proposed SNAP Rule to include alternatives that are:  

### Acceptable with use conditions  

### Unacceptable  

### Changing status

# Thank you! Contact Information: Margaret Sheppard, SNAP Team Lead sheppard.margaret@epa.gov (202) 343 -9163 Chenise Farquharson, SNAP Coordinator farquharson.chenise@epa.gov (202) 564- 7768