Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Incorporation of Clean Air Act Amendments for Reductions in Class I, Group VI Controlled Substances

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With this action, EPA is taking direct final action on the accelerated phaseout regulations that govern the production, import, export, transformation and destruction of substances that deplete the ozone layer under the authority of Title VI of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (CAA or the Act). We are undertaking these revisions to implement recent changes (Oct. 21, 1998) to the CAA, which direct EPA to conform the U.S. methyl bromide phasedown schedule to the schedule for industrialized nations under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Protocol). Specifically, today's amendments reflect the Protocol's reductions in the production and consumption of class I, Group VI controlled substances (methyl bromide) for the 2001 calendar year and subsequent calendar years, as follows: beginning January 1, 2001, a 50 percent reduction in baseline levels; beginning January 1, 2003, a 70 percent reduction in baseline levels; and, beginning January 1, 2005, the complete phaseout of class I, Group VI controlled substances.