Proposed Revisions to the Refrigerant Management Program's Extension to Substitutes

October 1st, 2018 by Ann Rippe

Proposed Rule Change
Summary: EPA is proposing to revise the appliance maintenance and leak repair provisions from a final rule issued on November 18, 2016 (81 FR 82272). Under the proposed rule, they would apply only to equipment using refrigerant containing a class I or class II substance. Based on this proposed limitation of the leak repair requirements, EPA is also proposing to revise the list of practices that must be followed in order for refrigerant releases to be considered de minimis to clarify that the reference to following leak repair practices only applies to equipment that contains ODS refrigerant. Additionally, EPA is proposing to extend by six to twelve months the January 1, 2019 compliance date for when appliances containing only substitute refrigerants subject to the venting prohibition must comply with the appliance maintenance and leak repair provisions.
[Full Text - 83 FR 49332]

Citations: 40 CFR 82.154(a); 40 CFR 82.157(a)

Ann Rippe

Manager of Regulatory Services