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Recyclers News Press
EPAProposes toEliminate
Useof 134aRefrigerant inVehicles
TheU.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency (EPA) an-
nounced earlier thismonth that it intends to propose a
rule later this year toeliminate the use of 134aas a
refrigerant innewmotor vehicles.
This upcoming action however will not impact theuse
of 134a in the servicing ofmotor vehicles already on
the road. EPA also
did not specify a
timeline for ending
use of 134a, but
stated that such ac-
tionwould be deter-
mined basedon each
specified use case.
In its press announcement, EPA pointed to theavail-
ability of substitutes for 134a inmotor vehicles includ-
ing 1234yf. This action followsEPA's publicationof a
final rule in late2013 that approved automotive air
conditioning refrigerant 1234yf to be sold to consumers
so that they can recharge their vehicle air conditioning
systems. EPA expects 1234yf will eventually replace
134awhichhas a highglobal warming potential
(GWP).
WASHINGTON, D.C. –TheU.S. Environmental Pro-
tectionAgency (EPA) announced onTuesday, Feb. 4
that it will soon issue a proposed rule that would elimi-
nate the useof 134aas a refrigerant in newmotor ve-
hicles and as anaerosol inmany consumer products.
Theactionwill be takenunder theSignificant NewAl-
ternativesProgram (SNAP), whichwas established
under the 1990CleanAir Act Amendments to evaluate
the human health andenvironmental impact of substi-
tutes for ozone-depleting substances that havebeen
phased out of production. Theagency is taking this
action as part of thePresident ClimateActionPlan,
which aims to develop
an “all-of-the-above”
strategy for reducing
emissions of green-
housegases in the
U.S.
According to the
agency, aproposed rulewill be issued this summer to
withdrawapproval for 134a for use in newmotor vehi-
cles and as an aerosol in consumer products. EPA
pointed to theavailability of substitutes for 134a in both
motor vehicles and consumer products including
1234yf, whichwas approved under SNAP for useon
vehicles. EPA did clarify that theupcoming actionwill
not impact theuse of 134a in the servicing of motor
vehicles already on the road. As part of the announce-
ment, EPA didnot specify a timeline for endinguseof
134a, but stated that such actionwouldbe determined
based on each specifieduse case.
ARAUpdates
Industrynews from thenational association
