RCW 70A.60.005
Finding
—
Intent.
(1) The legislature finds that hydrofluorocarbons are air pollutants that pose significant threats to our environment. Although hydrofluorocarbons currently represent a small proportion of the state's greenhouse gas emissions, emissions of hydrofluorocarbons have been rapidly increasing in the United States and worldwide, and they are hundreds to thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide. In 2019, the legislature took a significant step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions from hydrofluorocarbons by transitioning to the use of less damaging hydrofluorocarbons or suitable substitutes in certain new foam, aerosol, and refrigerant uses. However, significant sources of hydrofluorocarbon emissions in Washington remain unaddressed by the 2019 legislation, including legacy uses of hydrofluorocarbons as a refrigerant in infrastructure that was installed prior to the effective dates of the restrictions in the 2019 law, and from sources like stationary air conditioners and heat pumps that were not covered by the 2019 law.
(2) Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to reduce hydrofluorocarbon emissions, including by:
(a) Authorizing the establishment of a maximum global warming potential threshold for hydrofluorocarbons used as a refrigerant;
(b) Authorizing the regulation of hydrofluorocarbons in air conditioning and heat pumps;
(c) Applying the same basic emission control requirements to hydrofluorocarbons that have long applied to ozone-depleting substances used as refrigerants;
(d) Establishing a program to reduce leaks and encourage refrigerant recovery from large refrigeration and air conditioning systems;
(e) Directing the state building code council to adopt codes that are consistent with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with hydrofluorocarbons;
(f) Establishing a state procurement preference for recycled refrigerants; and
(g) Allowing consideration of the global warming potential of refrigerants used in equipment incentivized under utility conservation programs.
(3) Furthermore, it is the intent of the legislature that the ice rink used by Seattle's newest hockey franchise, the Seattle Kraken, should be as cold as possible, but also should be refrigerated using climate-friendly refrigerants, so that on opening night of the 2021-2022 National Hockey League season, as many fans as possible can simultaneously yell the Pacific Northwest's favorite new phrase: 'Release the Kraken!'
[
2021 c 315 s 1
.]
RCW 70A.60.010
Definitions.
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1)(a) "Air conditioning" means the process of treating air to meet the requirements of a conditioned space by controlling its temperature, humidity, cleanliness, or distribution.
(b)(i) "Air conditioning" includes chillers.
(ii) "Air conditioning" includes heat pumps.
(c) "Air conditioning" applies to stationary air conditioning equipment and does not apply to mobile air conditioning, including those used in motor vehicles, rail and trains, aircraft, watercraft, recreational vehicles, recreational trailers, and campers.
(2) "Bulk" means:
(a) The same as defined in 40 C.F.R. Sec. 84.3, as it existed on July 27, 2025; or
(b) An updated definition adopted by rule by the department under RCW 70A.60.100
(2)(c).
(3) "Class I substance" and "class II substance" means those substances listed in 42 U.S.C. Sec. 7671a, as of November 15, 1990, or those substances listed in Appendix A or B of Subpart A of 40 C.F.R. Part 82, as of January 3, 2017.
(4) "Department" means the department of ecology.
(5) "Hydrofluorocarbons" means a class of greenhouse gases that are saturated organic compounds containing hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon.
(6) "Ice rink" means a frozen body of water, hardened chemicals, or both, including, but not limited to, professional ice skating rinks and those used by the general public for recreational purposes.
(7) "Low global warming potential" means a global warming potential of less than 150 carbon dioxide equivalents.
(8) "Manufacturer" includes any person, firm, association, partnership, corporation, governmental entity, organization, or joint venture that produces any product that contains or uses hydrofluorocarbons or is an importer or domestic distributor of such a product.
(9) "Newly produced refrigerant" means a refrigerant that has not been previously used, recovered, or reclaimed. Newly produced refrigerant is sometimes referred to as "virgin" refrigerant.
(10) "Person" means an individual, partnership, franchise holder, association, corporation, a state, a city, a county, or any subdivision or instrumentality of the state.
(11) "Reclaim" means:
(a) The reprocessing of regulated substances to all of the specifications in appendix A to 40 C.F.R. Part 82, Subpart F (based on air-conditioning, heating, and refrigeration institute standard 700-2016), as it existed on July 27, 2025, that are applicable to that regulated substance and to verify that the regulated substance meets these specifications using the analytical methodology prescribed in section 5 of appendix A to 40 C.F.R. Part 82, Subpart F, as those regulations existed on July 27, 2025, and do not contain more than 15 percent newly produced material by weight, pursuant to federal regulations at 40 C.F.R. Part 84, Subpart C, as it existed on July 27, 2025; or
(b) An updated definition adopted by rule by the department under RCW 70A.60.100
(2)(c).
(12) "Refrigeration equipment" or "refrigeration system" means any stationary device that is designed to contain and use refrigerant. "Refrigeration equipment" includes refrigeration equipment used in retail food, cold storage, industrial process refrigeration and cooling that does not use a chiller, ice rinks, and other refrigeration applications.
(13) "Regulated refrigerant" means a class I or class II substance as listed in Title VI of section 602 of the federal clean air act amendments of November 15, 1990.
(14) "Residential consumer refrigeration products" has the same meaning as defined in section 430.2 of Subpart A of 10 C.F.R. Part 430 (2017).
(15) "Retrofit" has the same meaning as defined in section 152 of Subpart F of 40 C.F.R. Part 82, as that section existed as of January 3, 2017.
(16) "Substitute" means a chemical, product, or alternative manufacturing process, whether existing or new, that is used to perform a function previously performed by a class I substance or class II substance and any chemical, product, or alternative manufacturing process subsequently developed, adapted, or adopted to perform that function including, but not limited to, hydrofluorocarbons. "Substitute" does not include 2-BTP or any compound as applied to its use in aerospace fire extinguishing systems.
(17) "Transshipment" means the shipment of a regulated substance through the state of Washington from one point outside the state of Washington to another point outside the state of Washington, as long as the shipment does not enter commerce in Washington.
(18) "Ultra-low global warming potential" means a global warming potential of less than 10 carbon dioxide equivalents.
[
2025 c 313 s 5
;
2021 c 315 s 2
.]
NOTES:
Reviser's note:
The definitions in this section have been alphabetized pursuant to RCW 1.08.015
(2)(k).
Findings
—
Intent
—
2025 c 313:
See note following RCW 70A.60.100
.
RCW 70A.60.020
Refrigerant substitutes
—
Limitations
—
Rule making.
(1) Within 12 months of another state's enactment or adoption of restrictions on substitutes applicable to new light duty vehicles, the department may adopt restrictions applicable to the sale, lease, rental, or other introduction into commerce by a manufacturer of new light duty vehicles consistent with the restrictions identified in appendix B, Subpart G of 40 C.F.R. Part 82, as of January 3, 2017. The department may apply an effective date to the restrictions adopted under this subsection that differs from the effective date of the restrictions adopted by another state, but the department may not adopt restrictions that take effect prior to the effective date of restrictions adopted or enacted in at least one other state.
(2) The department may adopt rules that establish a maximum global warming potential of 750 for substitutes used in new stationary air conditioning. Rules adopted under this subsection may not take effect prior to:
(a) January 1, 2023, for dehumidifiers and room air conditioners;
(b)(i) January 1, 2025, for other types of stationary air conditioning equipment, but only if before January 1, 2023, the state building code council adopts the following safety standards into the state building code as these standards existed as of January 1, 2022:
(A) American society of heating, refrigerating, and air-conditioning engineers standard 15;
(B) American society of heating, refrigerating, and air-conditioning engineers standard 15.2;
(C) American society of heating, refrigerating, and air-conditioning engineers standard 34; and
(D) Underwriters laboratories standard UL 60335-2-40 edition 4;
(ii) If the state building code council adopts the safety standards referenced in (b)(i) of this subsection after January 1, 2023, the restrictions of this subsection may apply to refrigeration equipment manufactured no earlier than 24 months after the adoption of the safety standards; and
(c) January 1, 2026, for systems with variable refrigerant flow or volume.
(3)(a) Consistent with the timeline established in (b) of this subsection, the department may adopt rules to prohibit the use of refrigerant substitutes that have a global warming potential of greater than 150 for use in refrigeration equipment containing more than 50 pounds of refrigerant;
(b)(i) The restrictions in (a) of this subsection must apply to new refrigeration equipment manufactured after December 31, 2024, but only if before January 1, 2023, the state building code council adopts the following safety standards into the state building code, as these standards existed as of January 1, 2022:
(A) American society of heating, refrigerating, and air-conditioning engineers standard 15;
(B) American society of heating, refrigerating, and air-conditioning engineers standard 34; and
(C) Underwriters laboratories standard UL 60335-2-89 edition 2;
(ii) If the state building code council adopts the safety standards referenced in (b)(i) of this subsection after January 1, 2023, the restrictions of (a) of this subsection may apply to refrigeration equipment manufactured no earlier than 24 months after the adoption of the safety standards.
(4) The department shall prohibit the use of refrigerant substitutes that have a global warming potential of greater than:
(a) One hundred fifty for use in new equipment manufactured after December 31, 2023, for installation in new ice rinks; and
(b) Seven hundred fifty for use in new equipment manufactured after December 31, 2023, for installation in existing ice rinks.
(5)(a) The department, in rules adopted to implement this section, may establish reporting, labeling, and recordkeeping requirements applicable to regulated facilities and persons. To the extent practicable, rules adopted under this section must be harmonized with reporting, labeling, or recordkeeping requirements established under RCW 70A.60.030
.
(b) To the extent practicable, the department must adopt rules to implement this section that are consistent with similar programs in other states that reduce emissions from refrigerants.
(c) The department may adopt rules to grant variances from the requirements of this section.
(d) Restrictions adopted by the department under this section are additional to specific restrictions on applications and end uses established in RCW 70A.60.060
.
(6)(a) Prior to adopting final rules to implement restrictions under subsection (2) or (3) of this section, the department must review the availability and affordability of:
(i) Equipment that meets applicable global warming potential requirements;
(ii) Refrigerants that meet applicable global warming potential requirements; and
(iii) Appropriate training to utilize equipment that meets applicable global warming potential requirements.
(b) After the review required under (a) of this subsection, the department is encouraged to consider delaying the effective date of restrictions under this section in the event that the department determines that significant training or compliant equipment or refrigerant availability and affordability limitations are expected to occur.
[
2021 c 315 s 8
.]
NOTES:
Effective date
—
2021 c 315 s 8:
"Section 8 of this act takes effect January 1, 2022." [
2021 c 315 s 22
.]
RCW 70A.60.030
Refrigerant management program
—
Rules
—
Fees.
(1) The department shall establish a refrigerant management program designed to reduce emissions of refrigerants, including regulated substances and their substitutes, from activities or equipment responsible for significant volumes of such emissions. The program must include, at minimum, larger stationary refrigeration systems and larger commercial air conditioning systems. The department must adopt rules to implement and enforce the requirements of this section. The department may require compliance with refrigerant management program requirements beginning no earlier than January 1, 2024, and no earlier than the adjournment of the regular legislative session following the submission of a report to the appropriate committees of the legislature by the department estimating leakage of refrigerants from existing systems in Washington, and estimating a statewide rate of leakage from the categories of systems that are subject to the refrigerant management program rules adopted by the department under this section.
(2)(a) The department shall exempt refrigeration and air conditioning equipment operations associated with de minimis emissions or with a de minimis charging capacity of less than 50 pounds in a single system from registration, reporting, and leak detection requirements established in this section. The department shall exempt from the requirements established in this section equipment that uses refrigerants with a global warming potential of less than 150 and that are not class I or class II substances.
(b) The department may scale the requirements adopted under this section based on the size of the equipment, the facility containing the equipment, or the business operations of a person responsible for such emissions. The department may establish delayed effective dates of requirements applicable to persons and systems associated with lower emissions of refrigerants than other persons and systems regulated under this section.
(3) Each year, the owner or operator of a stationary refrigeration system or air conditioning system that exceeds a de minimis charge capacity of 50 pounds must register with the department. The department must phase in system registration requirements under this subsection in order to prioritize systems with the largest charge capacity or greatest potential for refrigerant emissions. Registration with the department must, consistent with rules adopted by the department, include the submission of information about the refrigeration system, including equipment type, refrigerant charge capacity, and the type of refrigerant used.
(4) Prior to the sale of a registered refrigeration or air conditioning system, the owners or operators of the system must provide leak rate documentation to the prospective purchaser.
(5) The owner or operator of a registered stationary refrigeration system or air conditioning system must conduct periodic leak-detection inspections of the system. The department may require inspections to be conducted with relatively greater frequency for systems with larger volumes of refrigerants. The department may exempt systems that use refrigerants with low global warming potential or that have automatic leak-detection systems from the requirements of this subsection.
(6) The owner or operator of a registered stationary refrigeration or air conditioning system must inspect for leaks each time significant amounts of refrigerant are added to the system.
(7) The department must adopt rules that:
(a) Require refrigeration or air conditioning systems found to be leaking to be repaired within a specified amount of time;
(b) Require the retrofit, replacement, or retirement of a refrigeration or air conditioning system with a leak that is not capable of being repaired;
(c) Establish annual reporting requirements for owners or operators of refrigeration systems or air conditioning systems that include information about the system, including system service and leak repair conducted on the system over the preceding year, and information on the purchase and use of refrigerants in the covered system during the preceding year;
(d) Establish annual reporting requirement for refrigerant wholesalers, distributors, and reclaimers;
(e) Establish record retention requirements for operators of facilities and wholesalers, distributors, and reclaimers of refrigerants and substitutes;
(f) Apply leak rates and other regulatory thresholds that achieve greater emission reductions than the federal regulations adopted by the United States environmental protection agency, and that reflect levels of achievable superior performance established for the greenchill voluntary program implemented by the United States environmental protection agency; and
(g) To the maximum extent practicable while giving consideration to the goals of this chapter, establish recordkeeping and reporting requirements that are consistent with programs implemented by the federal environmental protection agency or in other states, and that minimize compliance costs and regulatory burdens for regulated parties.
(8) The department may adopt rules to establish:
(a) Service practices for stationary appliances, including both stationary refrigeration systems and air conditioning systems. Service practices established by the department may include requiring technicians certified under United States environmental protection agency standards to service refrigerant systems, requiring reporting and recordkeeping that identifies the technicians that have serviced appliances, prohibiting practices likely to result in releases to the environment, requiring all practicable efforts to recover refrigerants from covered systems, and prohibiting the addition of refrigerants to systems known to have a leak; and
(b) A process for wholesalers, distributors, reclaimers, and refrigeration and air conditioning equipment operators to apply to the department for an exemption from some or all of the requirements of this section. Exemptions may be granted by the department on the basis of economic hardship, natural disaster, or after considering a calculation of life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions associated with the granting of an exemption that will allow an identified leak to go unrepaired for a finite period of time.
(9) The department may determine, assess, and collect annual fees from the owners or operators of refrigeration and air conditioning systems regulated under this section in an amount sufficient to cover the direct and indirect costs of administering and enforcing the provisions of this section. All fees collected under this subsection must be deposited in the refrigerant emission management account created in RCW 70A.60.050
.
(10) By December 1, 2029, and every five years thereafter, the department must consider the greenhouse gas emissions reductions achieved under the program created in this section and the criteria of RCW 70A.60.040
(3), and make a determination whether to continue to implement the program for the following five years. The department must notify the appropriate committees of the house of representatives and the senate of its determination.
[
2021 c 315 s 9
.]
RCW 70A.60.040
Department's authority.
(1) The authority granted by this chapter to the department for restricting the use of substitutes is supplementary to the department's authority to control air pollution pursuant to chapter
70A.15
RCW. Nothing in this chapter limits the authority of the department under chapter
70A.15
RCW.
(2) The department, in enforcing the requirements of this chapter, must adhere to the provisions applicable to the department under chapter
43.05
RCW regarding site inspections, technical assistance visits, notices of correction, and the issuance of civil penalties, to the extent that these provisions are not in conflict with federal requirements described in RCW 43.05.901
.
(3) The department may elect to refrain from or cease administering or enforcing a requirement of this chapter if the United States environmental protection agency adopts requirements that:
(a) Are substantially duplicative of the requirements of this chapter and that negate the additional emission reduction benefits of state implementation of any requirement of this chapter; or
(b) Preempt state authority under this chapter.
[
2021 c 315 s 11
.]
RCW 70A.60.050
Refrigerant emission management account.
The refrigerant emission management account is created in the state treasury. All receipts received by the state from the fees imposed under RCW 70A.60.030
must be deposited in the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used only to develop and implement the provisions of RCW 70A.60.030
.
[
2021 c 315 s 12
.]
RCW 70A.60.060
Prohibited products and equipment
—
Department's rule-making authority
—
Disclosure of substitutes used in products or equipment.
(1) A person may not offer any product or equipment for sale, lease, or rent, or install or otherwise cause any equipment or product to enter into commerce in Washington if that equipment or product consists of, uses, or will use a substitute, as set forth in appendix U and V, Subpart G of 40 C.F.R. Part 82, as those read on January 3, 2017, for the applications or end uses restricted by appendix U or V of the federal regulation, as those read on January 3, 2017, consistent with the deadlines established in subsection (2) of this section. Except where existing equipment is retrofit, nothing in this subsection requires a person that acquired a restricted product or equipment prior to the effective date of the restrictions in subsection (2) of this section to cease use of that product or equipment. Products or equipment manufactured prior to the applicable effective date of the restrictions specified in subsection (2) of this section may be sold, imported, exported, distributed, installed, and used after the specified effective date.
(2) The restrictions under subsection (1) of this section for the following products and equipment identified in appendix U and V, Subpart G of 40 C.F.R. Part 82, as those read on January 3, 2017, take effect beginning:
(a) January 1, 2020, for:
(i) Propellants;
(ii) Rigid polyurethane applications and spray foam, flexible polyurethane, integral skin polyurethane, flexible polyurethane foam, polystyrene extruded sheet, polyolefin, phenolic insulation board, and bunstock;
(iii) Supermarket systems, remote condensing units, and stand-alone units;
(b) January 1, 2021, for:
(i) Refrigerated food processing and dispensing equipment;
(ii) Compact residential consumer refrigeration products;
(iii) Polystyrene extruded boardstock and billet, and rigid polyurethane low-pressure two component spray foam;
(c) January 1, 2022, for:
(i) Residential consumer refrigeration products other than compact and built-in residential consumer refrigeration products; and
(ii) Vending machines;
(d) January 1, 2023, for cold storage warehouses;
(e) January 1, 2023, for built-in residential consumer refrigeration products;
(f) January 1, 2024, for centrifugal chillers and positive displacement chillers; and
(g) On either January 1, 2020, or the effective date of the restrictions identified in appendix U and V, Subpart G of 40 C.F.R. Part 82, as those read on January 3, 2017, whichever comes later, for all other applications and end uses for substitutes not covered by the categories listed in (a) through (f) of this subsection.
(3) The department may by rule:
(a) Modify the effective date of a prohibition established in subsection (2) of this section if the department determines that the rule reduces the overall risk to human health or the environment and reflects the earliest date that a substitute is currently or potentially available;
(b) Prohibit the use of a substitute if the department determines that the prohibition reduces the overall risk to human health or the environment and that a lower risk substitute is currently or potentially available;
(c)(i) Adopt a list of approved substitutes, use conditions, or use limits, if any; and
(ii) Add or remove substitutes, use conditions, or use limits to or from the list of approved substitutes if the department determines those substitutes reduce the overall risk to human health and the environment; and
(d) Designate acceptable uses of hydrofluorocarbons for medical uses that are exempt from the requirements of subsection (2) of this section.
(4) The department shall adopt rules requiring that manufacturers disclose the substitutes used in their products or equipment or to disclose the compliance status of their products or equipment. That disclosure must take the form of:
(a) A label on the equipment or product. The label must meet requirements designated by the department by rule. To the extent feasible, the department must recognize existing labeling that provides sufficient disclosure of the use of substitutes in the product or equipment or of the compliance status of the products or equipment.
(i) The department must consider labels required by state building codes and other safety standards in its rule making; and
(ii) The department may not require labeling of aircraft and aircraft components subject to certification requirements of the federal aviation administration.
(b) Submitting information about the use of substitutes to the department, upon request.
(i) By December 31, 2019, all manufacturers must notify the department of the status of each product class utilizing hydrofluorocarbons or other substitutes restricted under subsection (1) of this section that the manufacturer sells, offers for sale, leases, installs, or rents in Washington state. This status notification must identify the substitutes used by products or equipment in each product or equipment class in a manner determined by rule by the department.
(ii) Within one hundred twenty days after the date of a restriction put in place under this section, any manufacturer affected by the restriction must provide an updated status notification. This notification must indicate whether the manufacturer has ceased the use of hydrofluorocarbons or substitutes restricted under this section within each product class and, if not, what hydrofluorocarbons or other restricted substitutes remain in use.
(iii) After the effective date of a restriction put in place under this section, any manufacturer must provide an updated status notification when the manufacturer introduces a new or modified product or piece of equipment that uses hydrofluorocarbons or changes the type of hydrofluorocarbons utilized within a product class affected by a restriction. Such a notification must occur within one hundred twenty days of the introduction into commerce in Washington of the product or equipment triggering this notification requirement.
(c) Alternative disclosure requirements to (a) of this subsection, if the department determines that the inclusion of a label denoting substitutes used or compliance status is not feasible for a particular product or equipment.
(5) The department may adopt rules to administer, implement, and enforce this section. If the department elects to adopt rules, the department must seek, where feasible and appropriate, to adopt rules, including rules under subsection (4) of this section, that are the same or consistent with the regulatory standards, exemptions, reporting obligations, disclosure requirements, and other compliance requirements of other states or the federal government that have adopted restrictions on the use of hydrofluorocarbons and other substitutes. Prior to the adoption or update of a rule under this section, the department must identify the sources of information it relied upon, including peer-reviewed science.
(6) For the purposes of implementing the restrictions specified in appendix U of Subpart G of 40 C.F.R. Part 82, as it read on January 3, 2017, consistent with this section, the department must interpret the term "aircraft maintenance" to mean activities to support the production, fabrication, manufacture, rework, inspection, maintenance, overhaul, or repair of commercial, civil, or military aircraft, aircraft parts, aerospace vehicles, or aerospace components.
(7) Except where existing equipment is retrofit, the restrictions of this section do not apply to or limit any use of commercial refrigeration equipment that was installed or in use prior to the effective date of the restrictions established in this section.
[
2021 c 315 s 7
;
2020 c 20 s 1404
;
2019 c 284 s 3
. Formerly RCW 70A.45.080, 70.235.080
.]
NOTES:
Finding
—
Intent
—
2019 c 284:
"(1) The legislature finds that hydrofluorocarbons are air pollutants that pose significant threats to our environment and that safer alternatives for the most damaging hydrofluorocarbons are readily available and cost-effective.
(2) Hydrofluorocarbons came into widespread commercial use as United States environmental protection agency-approved replacements for ozone-depleting substances that were being phased out under an international agreement. However, under a 2017 federal appeals court ruling, while the environmental protection agency had been given the power to originally designate hydrofluorocarbons as suitable replacements for the ozone-depleting substances, the environmental protection agency did not have clear authority to require the replacement of hydrofluorocarbons once the replacement of the original ozone-depleting substances had already occurred.
(3) Because the impacts of climate change will not wait until congress acts to clarify the scope of the environmental protection agency's authority, it falls to the states to provide leadership on addressing hydrofluorocarbons. Doing so will not only help the climate, but will help American businesses retain their positions as global leaders in air conditioning and refrigerant technologies. Although hydrofluorocarbons currently represent a small proportion of the state's greenhouse gas emissions, emissions of hydrofluorocarbons have been rapidly increasing in the United States and worldwide, and they are thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide. However, hydrofluorocarbons are also a segment of the state's emissions that will be comparatively easy to reduce and eliminate without widespread implications for the way that power is produced, heavy industries operate, or people transport themselves. Substituting or reducing the use of hydrofluorocarbons with the highest global warming potential will provide a significant boost to the state's efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to the limits established in RCW 70.235.020
.
(4) Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to transition to the use of less damaging hydrofluorocarbons or suitable substitutes in various applications in Washington, in a manner similar to the regulations that were adopted by the environmental protection agency, and that have been subsequently adopted or will be adopted in several other states around the country." [
2019 c 284 s 1
.]
RCW 70A.60.070
Recovery of regulated refrigerants.
(1) A person who services or repairs or disposes of a motor vehicle air conditioning system; commercial or industrial air conditioning, heating, or refrigeration system; or consumer appliance shall use refrigerant extraction equipment to recover regulated refrigerants and substitutes that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere.
(2) Upon request, the department shall provide information and assistance to persons interested in collecting, transporting, or recycling regulated refrigerants and substitutes.
(3) The willful release of regulated refrigerants and substitutes from a source listed in subsection (1) of this section is prohibited.
[
2021 c 315 s 4
;
1991 c 199 s 602
. Formerly RCW 70A.15.6410, 70.94.970
.]
NOTES:
Finding
—
1991 c 199:
"The legislature finds that:
(1) The release of chlorofluorocarbons and other ozone-depleting chemicals into the atmosphere contributes to the destruction of stratospheric ozone and threatens plant and animal life with harmful overexposure to ultraviolet radiation;
(2) The technology and equipment to extract and recover chlorofluorocarbons and other ozone-depleting chemicals from air conditioners, refrigerators, and other appliances are available;
(3) A number of nonessential consumer products contain ozone-depleting chemicals; and
(4) Unnecessary releases of chlorofluorocarbons and other ozone-depleting chemicals from these sources should be eliminated." [
1991 c 199 s 601
.]
Finding
—
1991 c 199:
See note following RCW 70A.15.1005
.
RCW 70A.60.080
Regulated refrigerants
—
Substitutes
—
Nonessential consumer products containing hydrofluorocarbons
—
Limitation on sale or purchase.
No person may sell, offer for sale, or purchase any of the following:
(1) A substitute with a global warming potential of greater than 150 or a regulated refrigerant in a container designed for consumer recharge of a motor vehicle air conditioning system or consumer appliance during repair or service;
(2) Nonessential consumer products that contain hydrofluorocarbons with a global warming potential of greater than 150 and chlorofluorocarbons or other ozone-depleting chemicals, and for which suitable alternatives are readily available. Products affected under this subsection shall include, but are not limited to, party streamers, tire inflators, air horns, noise makers, and cleaning sprays designed for noncommercial or nonindustrial cleaning of electronic or photographic equipment. Products and equipment subject to restrictions on applications or end uses under RCW 70A.60.060
are not nonessential products for which hydrofluorocarbons are restricted under this section.
[
2021 c 315 s 5
;
1991 c 199 s 603
. Formerly RCW 70A.15.6420, 70.94.980
.]
NOTES:
Finding
—
1991 c 199:
See note following RCW 70A.15.1005
.
RCW 70A.60.090
Refrigerants
—
Rules.
The department shall adopt rules to implement RCW 70A.60.070
and
70A.60.080
. Rules shall include but not be limited to minimum performance specifications for refrigerant extraction equipment, procedures under which owners or operators of stationary refrigeration equipment and air conditioning equipment subject to the requirements of RCW 70A.60.030
must provide the department with information related to their use of regulated refrigerants and substitutes, as well as procedures for enforcing RCW 70A.60.070, 70A.60.080, and
70A.60.020
.
[
2021 c 315 s 6
;
2020 c 20 s 1160
;
1991 c 199 s 604
. Formerly RCW 70A.15.6430, 70.94.990
.]
NOTES:
Finding
—
1991 c 199:
See note following RCW 70A.15.1005
.
RCW 70A.60.100
Prohibition on bulk hydrofluorocarbons
—
Rule making
—
Exceptions
—
Penalties.
(1) It is prohibited to sell, distribute, or otherwise enter into commerce in the state newly produced bulk hydrofluorocarbons or newly produced bulk hydrofluorocarbon blends that:
(a) Have a global warming potential that exceeds 1,500, beginning January 1, 2030; and
(b) Have a global warming potential that exceeds 750, beginning January 1, 2033.
(2)(a) The department shall adopt rules to implement the requirements of this section.
(b) The department may adopt by rule lower global warming potential limits than are specified in subsection (1) of this section, or earlier dates for global warming potential limits than are specified in subsection (1) of this section, provided the department finds that an adequate supply of reclaimed refrigerant would be available in the state to accommodate any such change to the requirements of subsection (1) of this section.
(c) When adopting rules to conform to this section, the department may update the definitions of terms used in this section, including the definitions of "bulk" and "reclaim" in RCW 70A.60.010, in order to maintain consistency with federal regulations or to harmonize the department's rules with similar requirements adopted by other jurisdictions.
(d) In adopting rules to implement the provisions of this section, the department must consider and may incorporate factors that minimize or potentially eliminate disincentives and maximize or potentially incentivize the recovery of refrigerant and its reclamation or destruction including, but not limited to, prohibiting fees for destroying recovered refrigerant.
(3)(a) The prohibitions established under this section do not apply to:
(i) Hydrofluorocarbons that are reclaimed;
(ii) An application receiving application-specific allowances under subsection (e)(B) of the American innovation and manufacturing act of 2020 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 7675);
(iii) Hydrofluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbon blends regulated for use in aircraft maintenance or on board aircraft by the federal aviation administration, department of defense, or other equivalent authorities; or
(iv) Transshipments of bulk newly produced hydrofluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbon blends.
(b) For newly produced bulk hydrofluorocarbon blends, the global warming potential limits of this section apply to the global warming potential of the blend and not to any individual component of such a blend.
(4) The department may adopt rules to provide for:
(a)(i) A temporary exemption for a newly produced bulk hydrofluorocarbon or a newly produced bulk hydrofluorocarbon blend where the department determines complying with a requirement of this section is technically or economically infeasible.
(ii) An exemption granted by the department under (a)(i) of this subsection may not exceed three years and must be conditional upon the exemption recipient carrying out a plan, on an enforceable timeline, to meet the requirements of this section. Each exemption granted by the department shall end after three years unless, at least six months prior to the expiration of the exemption, the exemption recipient submits a request for extension with justification. The department may determine whether to renew or modify the exemption based on its review of the request for extension.
(b)(i) Up to a 30 calendar day emergency exemption to an applicant registered under RCW 70A.60.030
for purchasing a specific quantity of a newly produced bulk hydrofluorocarbon or a newly produced bulk hydrofluorocarbon blend. The department must issue this exemption within three business days of receiving an exemption application, where the applicant demonstrates:
(A) There is an emergency in which loss of refrigerating capacity in an existing system will cause substantial economic loss or risk to health;
(B) Repairs to the system will require it being recharged with hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants;
(C) The price or availability of reclaimed hydrofluorocarbons or hydrofluorocarbon blends at the time of repair makes the repair technically or economically infeasible; and
(D) It can purchase a newly produced bulk hydrofluorocarbon or newly produced bulk hydrofluorocarbon blend in a sufficient quantity to meet the emergency need.
(ii) The department may not authorize the purchase of a newly produced bulk hydrofluorocarbon or newly produced bulk hydrofluorocarbon blend in a larger quantity than the amount needed to make emergency repairs, which must not exceed the total refrigerant charge for the system.
(5) A violation of the requirements of this section are subject to penalties as provided in chapter
70A.15
RCW.
[
2025 c 313 s 2
.]
NOTES:
Findings
—
Intent
—
2025 c 313:
"(1) The legislature finds that:
(a) The Kigali amendment to the Montreal protocol and the American innovation and manufacturing act of 2020 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 7675), establish phased reductions in hydrofluorocarbon production and consumption but leave gaps in ensuring widespread use of reclaimed refrigerants and managing refrigerants at the end of their life cycle; and
(b) State action is urgently needed to complement federal and international efforts by promoting refrigerant recovery, reclamation, and the transition to climate-friendly refrigerants with lower or no global warming potential, through regulations and market-based incentives.
(2) It is the intent of the legislature to:
(a) Study feasible pathways to an expeditious transition of new equipment by 2035 to low global warming potential refrigerants of less than 150 carbon dioxide equivalents and ultra-low global warming potential refrigerants of less than 10 carbon dioxide equivalents;
(b) Support the development of robust refrigerant recovery infrastructure and foster public-private partnerships to promote the reclamation and reuse of refrigerants;
(c) Establish a clear regulatory framework for reducing emissions from refrigerants through phased limitations on high global warming potential substances and increasing recovery and use of reclaimed refrigerants; and
(d) Enhance industry compliance and stakeholder collaboration through education, training, and financial incentives, ensuring alignment with national and international climate objectives." [
2025 c 313 s 1
.]
RCW 70A.60.110
Refrigerant transition task force.
(1) The department must establish a refrigerant transition task force to study opportunities and barriers to transitioning to climate-friendly refrigerants and enhancing refrigerant recovery, recycling, reclamation, and destruction.
(a) By July 1, 2026, the department must appoint members of the task force. All representatives must disclose to the department all material financial interests related to the work of the task force, including funding sources for their work.
(b) Starting no later than June 1, 2027, for a period extending at least 60 days, the department must make available a draft of the task force report required in subsection (4) of this section for public input and comment.
(c) The department must submit the task force report required in subsection (4) of this section to the appropriate committees of the legislature no later than December 1, 2027.
(2) The task force must be chaired by a representative of the department and must consist of the following members appointed by the department:
(a) One representative from the private sector or a private sector trade association with expertise in installing, servicing, repairing, and decommissioning refrigeration and air conditioning equipment;
(b) One representative from the private sector or a private sector trade association with expertise in refrigerant recovery and reclamation;
(c) One representative from the private sector or a private sector trade association with expertise in manufacturing refrigeration and air conditioning equipment and the distribution and sale thereof;
(d) One Washington state representative from the private sector or a private sector trade association that installs and services either air conditioning or refrigeration equipment, or both;
(e) Three representatives from environmental nonprofit organizations with familiarity with the climate risks of hydrofluorocarbons;
(f) One representative of Washington agricultural businesses that own or operate either air conditioning or refrigeration equipment;
(g) One representative from a labor union representing workers who install and service refrigeration and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment;
(h) One representative of the state building code council with expertise in fire safety;
(i) One member representing tribal or indigenous organizations guiding decisions for purchase and operation of equipment using hydrofluorocarbons; and
(j) One representative of Washington businesses that own or operate refrigeration equipment containing more than 50 pounds of ultra-low global warming potential refrigerants.
(3) The department may invite the input of others with relevant expertise to work with the task force for one or more task force discussions including, but not limited to:
(a) A representative of environmental justice organizations;
(b) A representative for Washington independent, small, or rural grocers;
(c) State agency staff with relevant expertise, potentially including the department of labor and industries and others; and
(d) Others valuable for informing one or more task force discussions.
(4)(a) The task force must draft and submit to the department a report assessing the opportunities, barriers, and recommendations for transitioning to refrigerants with low global warming potential and ultra-low global warming potential by 2035, accounting for distinctions among different types of equipment and appliances for hydrofluorocarbon-using sectors and subsectors and the timelines needed for each sector or subsector to complete such a transition.
(b) In drafting the report required in this section, each member of the task force must make a good faith effort to reach consensus on each point and provision in the report.
(c) Where one or more members of the task force object to a point or provision in the report, that member or members may provide a description of such an objection, with all such descriptions listed in an annex to the report.
(5)(a) The department shall provide administrative and operating support, including arrangements for virtual meetings, to the task force and may contract with a third-party facilitator or other consultants to assist in carrying out the activities of the task force.
(b) A majority of the task force constitutes a quorum. Action by the task force, including the inclusion of a point or provision in the report, requires a quorum and a majority of those present and voting.
(6) The department may disband the task force created in this section upon the submission of the report under subsection (1)(c) of this section.
[
2025 c 313 s 3
.]
NOTES:
Findings
—
Intent
—
2025 c 313:
See note following RCW 70A.60.100
.
RCW 70A.60.120
Transition to refrigerants with low global warming potential
—
Rule making.
(1) To achieve the transition to refrigerants with low global warming potential and ultra-low global warming potential by 2035, accounting for distinctions among different types of equipment and appliances for hydrofluorocarbon-using sectors and subsectors and the timelines needed for each sector or subsector to complete such a transition, the department shall adopt rules, informed by the work and the report of the task force, to require low global warming potential or ultra-low global warming potential alternatives to hydrofluorocarbons in a sector unless it is not practicable for entities in the sector to comply with the requirement.
(2) The department may not issue a proposed rule under chapter
34.05
RCW related to subsection (1) of this section until January 1, 2028.
(3) The department may combine rule making under this section with rule making authorized under RCW 70A.60.100
for purposes of efficiency.
[
2025 c 313 s 4
.]
NOTES:
Findings
—
Intent
—
2025 c 313:
See note following RCW 70A.60.100
.