EPA to strengthen HFC laws
New proposals by the US EPA will see a tightening of HFC refrigerant emission, venting and sales laws.
The new proposals would update, redefine and strengthen existing rules governing ozone-depleting refrigerants refrigerant, their sales, handling, recovery, and recycling, and additionally apply those rules to HFCs. The EPA’s intentions were revealed by administrator Gina McCarthy at last week’s meeting at the White House.
The proposed updates to section 608 of the current US Clean Air Act would require the certification of engineers, would lower minimum allowable leakage rates and insist on the compulsory replacement of persistently leaking systems. It would also strengthen leak repair requirements and establish record-keeping requirements for the disposal of appliances containing 5-50lb (2.27- 22.7kg) of refrigerant …