Document ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0028-0092
Agency: epa
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2013-01-09T05:00Z

Subject: Samsung Testing Results 
Date: January 3, 2013, 11:00 to 11:40 AM
Re: Samsung Semiconductor Testing Results for Point of Use (POU) Abatement Systems and Destruction and Removal Efficiency (DRE) for Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases (F-GHGs)
Background:  Samsung requested a phone call with EPA to discuss the results of tests conducted in 2012 to measure the DRE of point of use abatement systems.  These results are relevant to the recently proposed rule, "Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program: Proposed Amendments and Confidentiality Determinations for Subpart I" [77 FR 63538, October 16, 2012].  EPA is documenting the phone call for docket number EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0028.  
Attendees:
EPA  - Anhar Karimjee, Deborah Ottinger, Jennifer Bohman
Samsung  -  Tim Jones
Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) Consultant - John Holmes
Eastern Research Group  -  Brian Palmer, EPA contractor
Summary:
Samsung reported that they tested the F-GHG DRE of the POU abatement systems on 24 units at their US semiconductor manufacturing facility. These abatement systems are manufactured by CSK and are controlling emissions from etch processes.  The abatement systems are not designed or intended to control F-GHG emissions. Instead, they are primarily intended to control ammonia and fluorine gas emissions. Samsung reported that their facility in South Korea has the same CSK abatement systems in place, but also has an additional system that is designed specifically to control F-GHG emissions.
The DRE was measured using the EPA's DRE protocol that is incorporated by reference into subpart I. The testing was performed by a testing contractor (URS Corporation) that is experienced with this method and the source category.
The CSK systems at the US facility were able to achieve substantial emission reductions of some of the F-GHGs that were measured. However, the measured DRE of perfluoromethane (CF4) was substantially below the default DRE value of 60 percent that is included in the present 40 CFR part 98 subpart I and that is included in the proposed amendments as a default DRE for CF4. Samsung reported that the systems have no manufacturer-claimed DRE for CF4.  However, Samsung is working with the manufacturer to see whether the systems' performance can be improved to achieve a 60 percent DRE for CF4.  Samsung stated that they assumed no DRE for the abatement systems when calculating the F-GHG emissions included in their 2011 annual report.
Samsung and SIA stated that they will submit comments on how the final rule should consider these testing results.  SIA also stated that they would only include data from systems designed to control F-GHGs in any data submitted to EPA in support of the proposed default DRE values in proposed Table I-16 of the proposed amendments.
EPA noted that the comment period for the proposed amendments will close on January 16, 2013. EPA encouraged Samsung and SIA to submit any data that are available as soon as possible so that other commenters can consider the data before the end of the comment period.