PLEASE NOTICE:  Required information for the 2012 calendar year must be submitted on or before March 30, 2013.

Sulfur hexafluoride is a potent greenhouse gas, with a global warming potential (GWP) of 23,900, the highest identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.  On October 25, 2007, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) approved sulfur hexafluoride reductions from non-electric and non-semiconductor applications as an early action measure. Accordingly, ARB staff developed a measure to reduce sulfur hexafluoride emissions from other uses including magnesium die-casting, fume vent hood testing, tracer gas use, and other niche uses. Sulfur hexafluoride emissions from semiconductor manufacture and electric utilities are being examined separately.  ARB approved the Regulation for Reducing Sulfur Hexafluoride Emissions in February 2009.  

On January 1, 2010, the regulation became effective.  Restrictions on use and sale occur on or after January 1, 2011. Registration, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements became effective March 30, 2010.  

The “Regulation for Reducing Sulfur Hexafluoride Emissions” (17 CCR §§ 95340 through 95346) requires certain records and information to be kept and reported.  Specifically §95345(e) requires distributors to report specified information.  A form for conveying this information to ARB is available here.  Distributors are ultimately responsible for meeting all the reporting requirements specified in Title 17, California Code of Regulations, §95345.

In order to ensure more accurate reporting of the uses for which sulfur hexaflouride is sold, updated definitions of the use categories provided on the reporting form are as follows:

GIS switchgear: Use of SF6 in electrical Gas Insulated Switchgear, as subject to “Regulation for Reducing Sulfur Hexafluoride Emissions from Gas Insulated Switchgear” §§ 95350 through 95359, title 17, California Code of Regulations.  (For further information please visit  http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/sf6elec/sf6elec.htm).

Particle Accelerator: Devices for generating beams of atomic or subatomic particles, including but not limited to those at large research facilities and also including those at hospitals and other medical facilities for use in therapy or isotope production.

Other Arc Quencher or Insulator Uses: For electrical arc quenching and insulating usage in electrical equipment other than Gas Insulated Switchgear or particle accelerators.

Tracer Gas: Use of SF6 to follow or measure air flows in indoor or outdoor environments or in equipment such as laboratory fume hoods.  Also includes use of SF6 for tracing underground water or steam flows, or underground storage system leakage.

Semiconductor Industry:  Use of SF6 in etching and/or chemical vapor deposition chamber cleaning procedures to process semiconductor devices or related solid state devices as subject to "Semiconductors and Related Devices," §§ 95320 through 95326, title 17, California Code of Regulations." A semiconductor operation may include, but is not limited to, the processing of diodes, zeners, stacks, rectifiers, integrated microcircuits, transistors, solar cells, light-sensing devices, and light-emitting devices.  (For further information please visit  http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/semiconductors/semiconductors.htm).

Other Electronics Industry: Use of SF6 in processing semiconductor devices or related solid state devices exempted by or otherwise not subject to “Semiconductors and Related Devices,” §§ 95320 through 95326, title 17, California Code of Regulations.  Generally, this includes processes other than etching and/or chemical vapor deposition chamber cleaning procedures.  (For further information please visit http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/semiconductors/semiconductors.htm).

Magnesium Casting: Use of SF6 as a barrier gas in production of magnesium castings.

Research: Use of SF6 for scientific research conducted in a research facility owned by the government or by an accredited post-secondary institution; please note that work conducted at privately-owned facilities is not included for purposes of this regulation.  (For further information, please see “Regulation for Reducing Sulfur Hexafluoride Emissions”, §§ 95340 through 95346, title 17, California Code of Regulations, http://www.arb.ca.gov/regact/2009/nonsemi09/sf6fro.pdf).

Educational Purposes: Use of SF6 in instructive demonstrations or other teaching situations.

Resale: Sales of SF6 to wholesalers or other distributors for eventual resale to an end-user or retail purchaser.

Other (with exemption): Uses of SF6 not specifically included elsewhere in this list that are exempted from controls by regulation or individual letter of exemption from the ARB Executive Officer.  Please provide elaboration in the “Comments” column.

Other (without exemption): Uses of SF6 not specifically included in this list that are not exempted from controls by regulation or individual letter of exemption from the ARB Executive Officer.  Please provide elaboration in the “Comments” column.