Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)

HCFC and HFC Phase-Out under Clean Air Act and Montreal Protocol

Section 605 of the Clean Air Act has a schedule for the phaseout of hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) production and consumption. Section 606 authorizes EPA to accelerate that schedule.

In addition to the Clean Air Act, the Montreal Protocol requires phasing out ozone-depleting HCFCs. According to the Protocol, the United States must reduce consumption and production of HCFCs to be no more than 10% of the established cap by January 1, 2015. EPA’s section 606 authority under the Clean Air Act is intended to enable the United States to meet the phaseout schedule under the Montreal Protocol.

Obama Administration (2009–2016)

On October 28, 2014, EPA finalized adjustments to the allowance system for consumption and production of HCFCs. 79 Fed. Reg. 64,254 (Oct. 28, 2014). The rule lists specific allowances for four HCFCs for 2015 to 2019. The plan dictates that HCFC-22 will be phased out completely by 2020; HCFC-123 will be capped at 2,000 MT per year through 2019; HCFC-124 will be allocated 200 MT per year through 2019; HCFC-142b is allocated 35 MT in 2015, decreasing by 5 MT per year through 2019 and reaching zero at 2020; and HCFC-225ca/cb received zero percent of the baseline. The rule was proposed to comply with the Clean Air Act and Montreal Protocol requirements.