After being signed back on September 26, EPA’s revisions to the refrigerant management regulations under 40 CFR 82 have finally been published in the Federal Register. The rule is effective January 1, 2017, but certain requirements will be phased in over the next 2 years.
The most significant change extends the regulations for ozone-depleting refrigerants to non-ozone- depleting substitutes through an amendment to the definition of “refrigerant.” This revised definition of refrigerant applies to any substitute, unless specifically exempted, but was primarily meant to address emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). HFCs are widely used refrigerants that were introduced as substitutes for ODS refrigerants, but they are also potent greenhouse gases with global warming potentials much greater than carbon dioxide.
Other significant changes include:
- In 2018, recordkeeping requirements for the disposal of appliances containing more than 5 but less than 50 pounds of refrigerant; and
- In 2019, stronger leak repair requirements those that own, operate, maintain, or service air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment containing more than 50 pounds of refrigerant.
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