|
This page last reviewed January 21, 2010
Stationary
Equipment Refrigerant Management Program
Background
 As
part of the California
Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32)
the ARB 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.
The refrigerant management program is a strategy to
implement this early
action.
High-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants, such as
chlorofluorocarbons
(CFC), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC), hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), and
perfluorocarbons (PFC), are used in a large variety
of refrigeration and air-conditioning systems.
Currently, ozone depleting substance (ODS)
high-GWP GHG
refrigerant production and importation
phase-out (CFC and HCFC refrigerants), record-keeping, leak
repair, technician
certification, reclaimer certification, recovery equipment
specifications, sales
restrictions, and prohibition on
venting is regulated by the U.S. EPA under Title VI of
the US Clean
Air Act. The only regulation that extends to ODS substitutes
(including
HFC refrigerants) is
the prohibition on venting. The South Coast Air Quality Management
District issued Rule
1415 in 1991. The SCAQMD Rule 1415 has
similar requirements to the U.S. EPA rule.
The refrigerant management program is designed to complement
the federal and SCAQMD regulations and provide better control of
emissions of both ODS
and ODS substitute refrigerants.
The refrigerant management program is designed to: 1) reduce emissions
of high-GWP GHG
refrigerants from leaky
stationary, non-residential refrigeration equipment; 2) reduce
emissions from the installation and servicing of refrigeration and
air-conditioning appliances using high-GWP refrigerants; and 3) verify
GHG emission reductions. The strategy of
the regulation includes: registration; refrigerant leak detection and
monitoring; leak
repair; reporting and recordkeeping; system retrofit or retirement
planning; required service practices; and refrigerant distributor,
wholesaler,
and
reclaimer prohibitions, recordkeeping, and reporting.
What's
New
On December 9, 2009 the California Air Resources Board approved The
Management of High Global Warming Potential Refrigerants For Stationary
Sources regulation (commonly known as the Refrigerant Management
Program). The regulation is scheduled to go into effect January
2011; until then we will outreach to facilities that will be
impacted to inform them of the provisions of the regulation.
The "formal" regulatory materials can be accessed from our
rulemaking webpage at the
following address:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/regact/2009/gwprmp09/gwprmp09.htm
What's
Next (Please sign up on the list serve (click
on the "Join Any reftrack Email
List" in the left navigation bar) to receive notification of new
activities.)
Rulemaking Updates
(Please see the rulemaking webpage for
information):
A supplemental 15-Day Notice will be published to
solicit comments on minor regulatory changes.
The Final Statement of Reasons (FSOR) will be published.
General
Information and Implementation Efforts:
Throughout 2010: Outreach to affected facilities. During
2010 we will seek to identify facilities that will be subject to the
regulation and inform them of its provisions.
Facilities can receive notification of new activities and
developments by signing up for our e-mail list serve in the left
navigation bar.
Fall 2010: Training on refrigeration practices and regulatory
requirements will be offered by ARB.
January
1, 2011: The regulation goes into effect. Facilities with
stationary refrigeration systems subject to the regulation begin
refrigerant leak
detection inspections and continuous monitoring, leak repair, retrofit
and retirement planning, required services
practices, and recordkeeping. Refrigerant distributors,
wholesalers, and reclaimers begin recordkeeping and prohibitions on
high-GWP refrigerant purchase, sale, and disposal. Required
service practices apply to any person that performs
installation, maintenance, service, repair, or disposal of an appliance
with high-GWP refrigerant.
On or before March 1, 2012: Facilities with large refrigeration
systems register; begin annual payment
of implementation fees; and begin annual submittal of facility
stationary refrigeration reports of system
servicing, leak repair, refrigerant purchases and use, and
inspection/monitoring results. Refrigerant distributors,
wholesalers, and reclaimers begin submitting annual reports.
On or before March 1, 2014: Facilities with medium refrigeration
systems
register; begin annual payment of implementation fees;
and begin annual submittal facility stationary refrigeration
reports of system
servicing, leak repair, refrigerant purchases and use, and
inspection/monitoring results.
On or before March 1, 2016: Facilities with small refrigeration systems
submit registration.
Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQ) (PDF 53KB)
Best
Management Practices pamphlet (PDF 846KB) (printer
ready version)
For additional information please
contact:
Charles
Seidler staff lead (916) 327-8493
Pamela
Gupta Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategy Section Manager (916)
327-0604
|
