US finalises HFC management rules
24th September 2024
USA: The US Environmental Protection Agency has announced a final rule to establish a new programme to better manage, recycle and reuse HFC refrigerants.
The final rule under the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act includes provisions that are designed to reduce leaks from refrigeration and air conditioning equipment and American innovation in the development of alternatives.
Today’s final rule, establishing the Emissions Reduction and Reclamation (ER&R) programme, addresses the third part of the bipartisan AIM Act to phase down HFCs under the Kigali Amendment.
It includes requirements for repairing leaking equipment, the installation and use of automatic leak detection systems on large refrigeration systems, using reclaimed HFCs to service certain existing equipment and removal of HFCs from disposable cylinders before they are discarded.
The regulations also establish a standard that limits the amount of virgin HFCs that can be contained in reclaimed HFC refrigerants. Additionally, the EPA is establishing alternative standards under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act for ignitable spent refrigerants when recycled for reuse.
Kevin Fay, executive director of the Alliance for Atmospheric Policy welcomed the completion of the rule. “We look forward to reviewing the details of the final rule, which establishes a formal baseline for a unified Federal approach to refrigerant management. We recognise that much work remains to fulfill the implementation requirements and to grow the programme to achieve refrigerant emission controls that are environmentally and economically effective.”
Stephen Yurek, president and CEO of the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute, said: “This Final Rule, which is an important part of the ongoing transition from hydrofluorocarbons to next-generation refrigerants, is the first, but important, step in refrigerant management policy for the HFC transition.”
The EPA estimates that in addition to the benefits from prior HFC actions, between 2026 and 2050, this rule will provide additional cumulative greenhouse gas emissions reductions of approximately 120MtCO2e, an incremental net benefit of at least $6.9bn.
