Phaseout of Class II Ozone-Depleting Substances
What's New
(1/14/09) Clarifying information on the HCFC Allocation and Pre-Charged Appliances proposed rules is available
(1/14/09) Transcripts from the January 7th public hearings on the Pre-Charged Appliances and the 2010 Allocation proposed rules are available
(12/11/08): EPA Signs Proposed Rule as the Next Step in the Phaseout of HCFCs
(12/11/08): EPA Signs Proposed Rule to Ban the Sale of Appliances Containing HCFCs
Class II controlled substances have an ozone depletion potential (ODP) less than 0.2 and are subject to a later phaseout schedule than Class I substances. Class II substances are all hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which were developed as transitional substitutes for Class I substances and which have many of the same uses as CFCs.
As a party to the Montreal Protocol, the U.S. must incrementally decrease HCFC consumption and production, culminating in a complete HCFC phaseout in 2030. The next major milestone for developed countries is a reduction in 2010 to at least 75 percent below baseline HCFC levels.
Section 605 of the Clean Air Act sets the U.S. phaseout targets for Class II substances. The phaseout framework was established in EPA’s January 21, 2003, final rule (68 FR 2819) (PDF) (282 kb, 45 pp., About PDF) and is shown in Table 2 below. Of the 34 HCFCs, the most widely used have been HCFC-22 (a commercial refrigerant), HCFC-141b (a solvent and foam-blowing agent), and HCFC-142b (a foam-blowing agent and component in refrigerant blends). EPA's efforts to phase out Class II substances has focused on these three HCFCs because they have the highest OPDs of all HCFCs. EPA banned the production and import of virgin HCFC-141b in 2003. On January 1, 2010, production and import of virgin HCFC-22 and HCFC-142b will be banned, with certain exceptions. More information can be found in our frequently asked questions as well as the fact sheets below.
EPA is proposing to adjust the allowance system for control of U.S. consumption and production of HCFCs by allocating allowances for the 2010-2014 control periods. A copy of the rule is found here (350 KB, 26 pp., About PDF). This proposal, which would take effect January 1, 2010, would reduce the amounts allowed for HCFC-22 and HCFC-142b, which already have allowances, and set allowances for other HCFCs for the first time. More information on the proposed rule, including how to submit your comments and a transcript from the public hearing on January 7, is found here.
EPA is also proposing to ban the sale or distribution of air-conditioning and refrigeration products containing HCFC-22, HCFC-142b, or blends containing one or both of these substances, beginning January 1, 2010. A copy of the rule is found here (173 KB, 12 pp., About PDF). More information on the proposed rule, including how to submit your comments and a transcript from the public hearing on January 7, is found here.
At the 19th Meeting of the Parties in Montreal on September 17-21, 2007, the Parties agreed to a more aggressive phasedown of HCFCs in both developing and developed countries. A graphical representation of the reductions for developing countries is found here. The overall schedule for the HCFC phaseout in the U.S. remains the same, and includes the following milestones:
Montreal Protocol | United States | ||
---|---|---|---|
Year |
% Reduction in Consumption and Production, Using the Cap as a
Baseline
|
Year
|
Implementation of HCFC Phaseout through Clean Air Act
Regulations
|
2004 |
35%
|
2003 |
No production and no importing of HCFC-141b
|
2010 |
75%¹
|
2010 |
No production and no importing of HCFC-142b and HCFC-22, except for
use in equipment manufactured before 1/1/2010 (so no production or
importing for NEW equipment that uses these refrigerants)
|
2015² | 90% | 2015 |
No production and no importing of any HCFCs, except for use as refrigerants in equipment manufactured before 1/1/2020 |
2020 | 99.5%³ | 2020 | No production and no importing of HCFC-142b and HCFC-22 |
2030 | 100% | 2030 | No production and no importing of any HCFCs |
¹ The Parties adjusted the phaseout schedule from 65% to 75% for 2010 at the 19th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, September 2007.
² The Parties agreed to address the possibilities or need for essential use exemptions, no later than 2015.
³ The Parties agreed to review in 2015 the need for the 0.5 per cent production or import for servicing during the period 2020-2030.
You will need the free Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Homeowners
- Owners of Comfort Cooling, Commercial, and Other Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Equipment
- Technicians and Contractors
- Equipment Manufacturers, Importers, and Exporters
- Chemical Manufacturers, Importers, and Exporters
- Additional Information Sources
Brochures
- Consumer Brochure: Phasing Out HCFC Refrigerants to Protect the Ozone Layer (PDF) (2 pp, 161K)
- Technician Brochure: What Technicians and Contractors Need to Know About Phasing Out HCFC Refrigerants to Protect the Ozone Layer (PDF) (2 pp, 4MB)
Servicing Needs
- REVISED (June 2008) The U.S. Phaseout of HCFCs: Projected Servicing Needs in the U.S. Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Sector (PDF) (51 pp, 332 K)
- REVISED (September 2006) The U.S. Phaseout of HCFCs: Projected Servicing Needs in the U.S. Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Sector (PDF) (43 pp, 641 K)
- (November 2005) Preliminary Draft Report: The U.S. Phaseout of HCFCs: Projected Servicing Needs in the U.S. Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Sector (PDF) (38 pp, 381 K)
Regulations and Federal Register Notices
- Proposed 2010 Allocation Rule (December 23, 2008; 73 FR 78680)
- Proposed Pre-Charged Appliances Rule (December 23, 2008; 73 FR 78705)
- Direct Final Rule (July 20, 2006; 71 FR 41163)
- Direct Final Rule (June 17, 2004; 69 FR 34024)
- Proposed Rule (June 17, 2004; 69 FR 34034)
- Technical Correction of Final Rule (July 16, 2003; 68 FR 41925)
- Final Rule (January 21, 2003; 68 FR 2819)
- Proposed Rule (July 20, 2001; 66 FR 38063)
- Advanced Notice of Proposed Rule (April 5, 1999; 64 FR 16373)
- Accellerated Phaseout of Class II Controlled Substances
- Proposed Rule (March 18,
1993; 58 FR 15014)
Final Rule (December 10, 1993; 58 FR 65018)