WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced its final phase down schedule regarding production and importation of HCFC-22 refrigerant. It calls for an immediate drop come this Jan. 1 from 51 million pounds allowed in 2014 to 22 million pounds in 2015. After that, 18 million pounds of new and imported R-22 will be allowed in 2016, 13 million pounds in 2017, nine million pounds in 2018, and four million pounds in 2019. No new or imported R-22 will be allowed as of Jan. 1, 2020.

In the announcement made Oct. 17, 2014, the EPA ended up using what it described as a “more aggressive linear reduction.” Other options would have allowed between 30 and 36 million pounds in 2015, much higher than the 22 million pounds now being allowed.

For more information on the EPA’s phaseout of HCFCs, visit www.epa.gov/ozone/title6/phaseout/classtwo.html.

Publication date: 10/20/2014

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