Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Standards Related to the Manufacture of Class II Ozone-Depleting Substances for Feedstock; Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

Résumé

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to require the control, capture, and/or destruction of a hydrofluorocarbon that would otherwise be emitted from manufacture of hydrochlorofluorocarbons. In this proposed rule, EPA is proposing to require companies to control, capture, and destroy HFC-23 byproduct generated at plants that manufacture class II ozone-depleting substances regulated under current Clean Air Act regulations, such as HCFC-22. HFC-23 is a very potent greenhouse gas that is generated as a byproduct during the manufacture of certain class II ozone-depleting substances, including HCFC-22. Under the Clean Air Act and the implementing regulations, the production and consumption of class II ozone-depleting substances, including HCFC-22, are restricted with limited exceptions. One such exception is production for use in transformation, or as a feedstock, which is allowed indefinitely. The Agency is proposing to limit emissions of HFC-23 from plants manufacturing HCFCs. The HFC-23 must be captured and employed for a commercial use or destroyed using a technology approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, thereby ensuring it is not directly emitted.