Fluoride Action Network

EPA Rule: Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Determination of Significant New Alternatives

Source: Federal Register 82 FR 33809 | July 21st, 2017 | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Industry type: Greenhouse/Ozone Gases
Summary

This determination of acceptability expands the list of acceptable substitutes pursuant to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. This action lists as acceptable additional substitutes for use in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector and the cleaning solvents sector.

The List of EPA’s New Acceptable Substitutes, which are all fluorinated man-made substances, is excerpted below. To read the full Federal Register Rule, go to https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/07/21/2017-15379/protection-of-stratospheric-ozone-determination-33-for-significant-new-alternatives-policy-program?utm_campaign=subscription%20mailing%20list&utm_source=federalregister.gov&utm_medium=email

Substitute

Details

HFC-134a

Description: HFC-134a is also known as R-134a, or 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane

CAS No. 811-97-2

Use: residential and light commercial air conditioning and heat pumps (retrofit equipment);

Global Warming Potential: 1,430
Atmospheric Lifetime: 14 years

Health and Environmental Risks of this substitute is available in Docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0118 under the following name:

HFE-7300

Description: 1,1,1,2,2,3,4,5,5,5-decafluoro-3-methoxy-4-(trifluoromethyl)pentane

Trade Name: 3MTM NovecTM 7300 Engineered Fluid.

CAS No. 132182-92-4

Use: in retail food refrigeration—remote condensing units (new and retrofit equipment)

Global Warming Potential: 310
Atmospheric Lifetime: 3.8 years

Health and Environmental Risks of this substitute is available in Docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0118 under the following name:

  •  “Risk Screen on Substitutes in Heat Transfer: HFE-7300”

R-407H

Description: R-407H, marketed under the trade name D407, is a weighted blend of 52.5 percent HFC-134a, which is also known as 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (CAS Reg. No. 811-97-2); 32.5 percent HFC-32, which is also known as difluoromethane (CAS Reg. No. 75-10-5); and 15 percent HFC-125, which is also known as 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoroethane

Use: in retail food refrigeration—remote condensing units (new and retrofit equipment)

CAS  No. 354-33-6

Health & Environmental Risks of this substitute is available in Docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0118 under the following name:

  •  “Risk Screen on Substitutes for Use in Retail Food Refrigeration Substitute: R-407H”

Global Warming: Its components, HFC-134a, HFC-32, and HFC-125, have GWPs of 1,430, 675, and 3,500, respectively. If these values are weighted by mass percentage, then R-407H has a GWP of about 1,500.

R-442A

Description & CAS Nos: R-442A, marketed under the trade name RS-50, is a weighted blend of 31 percent HFC-32, which is also known as difluoromethane (CAS Reg. No. 75-10-5); 31 percent HFC-125, which is also known as 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoroethane (CAS No. 354-33-6); 30 percent HFC-134a, which is also known as 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (CAS No. 811-97-2); five percent HFC-227ea, which is also known as 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane (CAS No. 431-89-0); and three percent HFC-152a, which is also known as 1,1-difluoroethane (CAS No. 75-37-6).

Use: in retail food refrigeration—remote condensing units (new and retrofit equipment)

Health & Environmental Risks of this substitute is available in Docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0118 under the following name:

  • “Risk Screen on Substitutes for Use in Retail Food Refrigeration Substitute: R-442A”

Global Warming Potential: Its components, HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a, HFC-227ea, and HFC-152a, have GWPs of 675; 3,500; 1,430; 3,220; and 124, respectively. If these values are weighted by mass percentage, then R-442A has a GWP of about 1,890.

R-448A

Description & CAS Nos: marketed under the trade name Solstice® N-40, is a weighted blend of 26 percent HFC-32, which is also known as difluoromethane (CAS No. 75-10-5); 26 percent HFC-125, which is also known as 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoroethane (CAS No. 354-33-6); 21 percent HFC-134a, which is also known as 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (CAS No. 811-97-2); 20 percent HFO-1234yf, which is also known as 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoroprop-1-ene (CAS No 754-12-1); and seven percent HFO-1234ze(E), which is also known as trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoroprop-1-ene (CAS No. 29118-24-9).

Use: in multiple refrigeration and air conditioning end-uses (new and retrofit equipment)

Health & Environmental Risks available in Docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0118 under the following names:

Global Warming Potential: Its components, HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a, HFO-1234yf, and HFO-1234ze(E) have GWPs of 675; 3,500; 1,430; one to four;?[11?12] and one to six;?[13] respectively. If these values are weighted by mass percentage, then R-448A has a GWP of about 1,390.

R-449A

Description & CAS Nos: R-449A, marketed under the trade name Opteon® XP 40, is a weighted blend of 24.3 percent HFC-32, which is also known as difluoromethane (CAS No. 75-10-5); 24.7 percent HFC-125, which is also known as 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoroethane (CAS No. 354-33-6); 25.7 percent HFC-134a, which is also known as 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (CAS No. 811-97-2); and 25.3 percent HFO-1234yf, which is also known as 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoroprop-1-ene (CAS No. 754-12-1).

Use: in multiple refrigeration and air conditioning end-uses (new and retrofit equipment)

Health and Environmental Risks are available in Docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0118 under the following names:

Global Warming Potential: Its components, HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a, and HFO-Start Printed Page 338141234yf, have GWPs of 675; 3,500; 1,430; and one to four,[15] respectively. If these values are weighted by mass percentage, then R-449A has a GWP of about 1,400.

R-449B

Description & CAS Nos: marketed under the trade name Forane® 449B, is a weighted blend of 25.2 percent HFC-32, which is also known as difluoromethane (CAS No. 75-10-5); 24.3 percent HFC-125, which is also known as 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoroethane (CAS No. 354-33-6); 27.3 percent HFC-134a, which is also known as 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (CAS No. 811-97-2); and 23.2 percent HFO-1234yf, which is also known as 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoroprop-1-ene (CAS No. 754-12-1).

Use: in multiple refrigeration and air conditioning end-uses (new and retrofit equipment)

Health & Environmenal Risks are available in Docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0118 under the following names:

  • “Risk Screen on Substitutes in Cold Storage Warehouses Substitute: R-449B (Forane® 449B)”
  •  “Risk Screen on Substitutes in Industrial Process Refrigeration Substitute: R-449B (Forane® 449B)”

Global Warming Potential: Its components, HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a, and HFO-1234yf, have GWPs of 675; 3,500; 1,430; and one to four,[17] respectively. If these values are weighted by mass percentage, then R-449B has a GWP of about 1,410.

R-452A

Description & CAS Nos: marketed under the trade name Opteon® XP 44, is a weighted blend of 11 percent HFC-32, which is also known as difluoromethane (CAS No. 75-10-5); 59 percent HFC-125, which is also known as 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoroethane (CAS No. 354-33-6); and 30 percent HFO-1234yf, which is also known as 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-prop-1-ene (CAS No. 754-12-1).

Use: in multiple refrigeration and air conditioning end-uses (new and retrofit equipment)

Health & Environmental Risks: available in Docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0118 under the following names:

  • “Risk Screen on Substitutes for Use in Refrigerated Transport Substitute: R-452A”
  •  “Risk Screen on Substitutes for Use in Retail Food Refrigeration Substitute: R-452A”

Global Warming: Its components, HFC-32, HFC-125, and HFO-1234yf, have GWPs of 675; 3,500; and one to four, respectively. If these values are weighted by mass percentage, then R-452A has a GWP of about 2,140.

R-452C

Description & CAS Nos: marketed under the trade name Forane® 452C, is a weighted blend of 12.5 percent HFC-32, which is also known as difluoromethane (CAS No. 75-10-5); 61 percent HFC-125, which is also known as 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoroethane (CAS No. 354-33-6); and 26.5 percent HFO-1234yf, which is also known as 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-prop-1-ene (CAS No. 754-12-1).

Use: Refrigerated transport—refrigerated trucks and trailers (new and retrofit equipment)

Health & Environmental Risks: available in Docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0118 under the following names:

  • “Risk Screen on Substitutes for Use in Refrigerated Transport Substitute: R-452C”
  •  “Risk Screen on Substitutes for Use in Retail Food Refrigeration Substitute: R-452C”

Global Warming Potential: Its components, HFC-32, HFC-125, and HFO-1234yf, have GWPs of 675; 3,500; and one to four,[21] respectively. If these values are weighted by mass percentage, then R-452C has a GWP of about 2,220.

R-453A

Description & CAS Nos: marketed under the trade name RS-70, is a weighted blend of 20.0 percent HFC-32, which is also known as difluoromethane (CAS Reg. No. 75-10-5); 20.0 percent HFC-125, which is also known as 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoroethane (CAS Reg. No. 354-33-6); 53.8 percent HFC-134a, which is also known as 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (CAS Reg. No. 811-97-2); five percent HFC-227ea, which is also known as 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane (CAS Reg. No. 439-89-0); 0.6 percent R-600, which is also known as butane (CAS Reg. No. 75-28-5); and 0.6 percent R-601a, which is also known as isopentane (CAS Reg. 78-78-4).

Use: Cold storage warehouses (new and retrofit equipment); Industrial process refrigeration (new and retrofit equipment); Retail food refrigeration—remote condensing units (new and retrofit equipment)

Health & Environmental Risks: available in Docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0118 under the following names:

  • “Risk Screen on Substitutes in Cold Storage Warehouses Substitute: R-453A (RS-70)”
  • “Risk Screen on Substitutes in Industrial Process Refrigeration Substitute: R-453A (RS-70)”
  •  “Risk Screen on Substitutes for Use in Retail Food Refrigeration Substitute: R-453A

Global Warming Potential: Its components, HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a, HFC-227ea, butane, and isopentane, have GWPs of 675, 3,500, 1,430, 3,220, 4, and 5, respectively. If these values are weighted by mass percentage, then R-453A has a GWP of about 1,770.

R-458A

Description & CAS Nos: R-458A, marketed under the trade name Bluon TdX 20, is a weighted blend of 20.5 percent HFC-32, which is also known as difluoromethane (CAS No. 75-10-5); 4.0 percent HFC-125, which is also known as 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoroethane (CAS No. 354-33-6); 61.4 percent HFC-134a, which is also known as 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (CAS No. 811-97-2); 13.5 percent HFC-227ea, which is also known as 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane (CAS No. 431-89-0); and 0.6 percent HFC-236fa, which is also known as 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane (CAS No. 690-39-1).

Use: Industrial process refrigeration (new and retrofit equipment); Residential and light commercial air conditioning and heat pumps (retrofit equipment only); Retail food refrigeration—remote condensing units (new and retrofit equipment)

Health and Environmental Risks: available in Docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0118 under the following names:

  • “Risk Screen on Substitutes in Industrial Process Refrigeration Substitute: R-458A (TdX 20)”
  • “Risk Screen on Substitutes in Residential and Light Commercial Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps Substitute: R-458A (TdX 20)”
  •  “Risk Screen on Substitutes for Use in Retail Food Refrigeration Substitute: R-458A (TdX 20)”

Global Warming Potential: Its components, HFC-32, HFC-125, HFC-134a, HFC-227ea, and HFC-236fa, have GWPs of 675, 3,500, 1,430, 3,220, and 9,810, respectively. If these values are weighted by mass percentage, then R-458A has a GWP of about 1,650.

R-513A

Description & CAS Nos: marketed under the trade name Opteon® XP 10, is a weighted blend of 44 percent HFC-134a, which is also known as 1,1,1,2 tetrafluoroethane (CAS No. 811-97-2), and 56 percent HFO-1234yf, which is also known as 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoroprop-1-ene (CAS No. 754-12-1).

Use: Residential dehumidifiers (new and retrofit equipment)

Health and Environmental Risks: available in Docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0118 under the following name:

  •  “Risk Screen on Substitutes for Use in Residential Dehumidifiers Substitute: R-513A”

Global Warming Potential: Its components, HFC-134a and HFO-1234yf, have GWPs of 1,430 and one to four,[25] respectively. If these values are weighted by mass percentage, then R-513A has a GWP of about 630.

HFE-7300

Description & CAS No: HFE-7300 is also known as 1,1,1,2,2,3,4,5,5,5-decafluoro-3-methoxy-4-(trifluoromethyl)pentane (CAS No. 132182-92-4) and goes by the trade name of 3MTM NovecTM 7300 Engineered Fluid.

Use: in electronics cleaning, metals cleaning, and precision cleaning end-uses.

Health and Environmental Risks: available in Docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0118 under the following name:

  • “Risk Screen on Substitutes in Electronics Cleaning, Metals Cleaning, and Precision Cleaning Substitute: HFE-7300.”

This action presents EPA’s most recent decision to list as acceptable several substitutes in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector and the cleaning solvents sector. New substitutes are:

DATES:

This determination is applicable on July 21, 2017.

ADDRESSES:

EPA established a docket for this action under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0118 (continuation of Air Docket A-91-42). All electronic documents in the docket are listed in the index at www.regulations.gov. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, i.e., Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically at www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the EPA Air Docket (Nos. A-91-42 and EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0118), EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), William J. Clinton West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460. The Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the Air Docket is (202) 566-1742.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Gerald Wozniak by telephone at (202) 343-9624, by email at wozniak.gerald@epa.gov, or by mail at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 6205T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460. Overnight or courier deliveries should be sent to the office location at 1201 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20004.

For more information on the Agency’s process for administering the SNAP program or criteria for the evaluation of substitutes, refer to the initial SNAP rulemaking published in the Federal Register on March 18, 1994 (59 FR 13044). Notices and rulemakings under the SNAP program, as well as other EPA publications on protection of stratospheric ozone, are available at EPA’s Ozone Layer Protection Web site at www.epa.gov/?ozone-layer-protection including the SNAP portion at www.epa.gov/?snap/?.