Story ID: 
EPA Orders Hydrofluorocarbon Drawdown
By: Kerry Lynch
Caption: The drawdown includes aircraft parts, manufacturing, and maintenance
Word Count: 200
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued regulations that set phased-in compliance deadlines restricting the use of certain hydrofluorocarbon sprays and their transportation in 40 specific sectors or subsectors of industry. This potentially includes some airframe and aircraft parts manufacturing processes, aircraft maintenance, and use of the sprays for cargo or air conditioning components in aircraft.
In addition to limiting the use of the agent, the rulemaking also provides a process for submitting technology transition petitions; establishes recordkeeping and reporting requirements; and addresses certain other elements related to the effective implementation of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020.
The final rule prohibits the sale, distribution, and export of factory-completed products that do not comply with the relevant restrictions. However, the EPA says it is “not regulating at this time actions with respect to components needed to service or repair existing systems.”
According to the EPA, the final rule incorporates some of the issues brought up in comments filed to the proposed rule issued on Dec. 15, 2022. The 15 comments submitted represented various industrial users and providers of hydrofluorocarbon products. Depending on the subsector affected, compliance dates range from Jan. 1, 2025, to Jan. 1, 2028.