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This page last reviewed May 26, 2009
Stationary
Equipment Refrigerant
Management Program
(formerly known as: High-GWP
Tracking/Reporting/Repair/Deposit Program) |
Background:
As part of the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32)
the ARB
has approved an early action measure to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions
from stationary sources through refrigerant leak detection and
monitoring, leak
repair, system retirement and retrofitting, reporting and
recordkeeping, and
proper refrigerant cylinder use, sale, and disposal.
This web page is to provide information as
the process proceeds in developing the strategy to implement
this early
action.
High-global warming potential (GWP) GHG, such as chlorofluorocarbons
(CFC),
hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC), hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), and
perfluorocarbons
(PFC), are used in a large variety of applications, including
refrigeration and
air-conditioning (RAC) systems, foams, fire extinguishing, solvent
cleaning,
consumer products, and industrial processes such as electrical
insulation,
semiconductor manufacturing, and photovoltaic cell/film manufacturing.
Currently, ozone depleting substance (ODS) production and importation
phase-out, record-keeping, maintenance/leak repair, technician
certification,
reclaimer certification, recovery equipment specifications, sales
restrictions,
and prohibition on venting is regulated under Title VI of the US Clean
Air Act.
The only regulation that extends to ODS substitutes (including HFC) is
the
prohibition on venting, which is not defined quantitatively.
Strategy Description: The proposed strategy
could include: 1) refrigerant
leak detection and monitoring; 2) leak repair; 3) system retirement and
retrofitting; 4) reporting and recordkeeping; 5) expanding
and enforcing required service
practices to reduce discharge of all high-GWP GHG during equipment
lifetime and
end-of-life (EOL); 6) refrigerant distributor, wholesaler, and
reclaimer
reporting; and 7) requiring
technician
certification for all high-GWP GHG sales and service of refrigeration
and
air-conditioning systems.
What's New Inventory
of Direct and Indirect GHG Emissions From Stationary Air Conditioning
and Refrigeration Sources, with Special Emphasis on Retail Food
Refrigeration and Unitary Air Conditioning (Final Report; 2.7 MB - note: this is a large file)
In
February, 2009 the Air
Resources Board (ARB) staff conducted a series of statewide public
workshops to discuss the proposed regulatory language for reducing
high-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant emissions from
stationary refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment through leak
repair, reporting, improved refrigerant recovery rates, and other
approaches.
ARB staff received
several comments on the proposed regulation and is currently reviewing
the comments, possible changes to the draft regulation and other board
documents. More time is needed to make sure all the comments
and concerns can be addressed in a careful manner. Therefore,
the Refrigerant Management Program will not be going to the board as
per schedule in May 2009. ARB staff will send
another notification on the revised board hearing schedule for this
program.
Draft Regulation (February 2009)
Draft
Regulation (PDF 1,315KB)
Technical
Appendices -
1. Appendix
A: California Facilities and Greenhouse Gas
Emissions
Inventory - High-Global Warming Potential Stationary Source Refrigerant
Management Program (PDF 1,235KB)
2. Appendix
B: Economic Impact
Estimates - High-Global Warming Potential Stationary Source Refrigerant
Management Program (PDF 583KB)
3. Summary of
changes in the regulation (PDF 18KB)
These
appendices will present the technical review of staff’s research
and
analysis on the baseline 2010 and 2020 business-as-usual and post rule
implementation emissions inventory, potential emissions reductions, and
costs related to the Refrigerant Management Program proposed
regulation.
For
additional information please contact
Jeff
Cohen staff lead (916)
327-8532
Charles
Seidler staff lead (916)
327-8493
Pamela
Gupta Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategy Section Manager (916)
327-0604
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