The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reopened the public comment period for the proposed Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: New Substitute in the Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning Sector Under the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program, extending it through Feb. 1, 2010.
Currently, the Clean Air Act requires the EPA to review alternatives for ozone-depleting substances and to approve of substitutes that do not present a risk more significant than other alternatives that are available.
Under that authority, the SNAP program proposes to expand the list of acceptable substitutes for ozone-depleting substances (ODS). The substitute addressed in this proposal is for the motor vehicle air conditioning sector. The EPA proposes to find HFO-1234yf acceptable, subject to use conditions, as a substitute for CFC-12 in motor vehicle air conditioning. The proposed substitute is a non-ozone-depleting gas and consequently does not contribute to ozone depletion.
The purpose of the program is to allow a safe, smooth transition away from ozone-depleting compounds by identifying substitutes that offer lower overall risks to human health and the environment.
In a letter to the U.S. EPA, the Automotive Service Association (ASA) expressed concern with the substitution of HFO-1234yf because it poses some risk to those persons handling the product, particularly nonprofessionals. The EPA notes the flammability issue in the proposed regulation for the use of the substitute HFO-1234yf. ASA supports a formal certification process for those persons purchasing HFO-1234yf for use in motor vehicle air conditioning systems. The certification process should include a new, updated test. Proof of certification and proper equipment should be prerequisites to any purchase of HFO-1234yf.
ASA stated in comments to the EPA, “Only certified automotive repair professionals should be allowed to purchase this product for use in mobile air conditioning systems.”
For more information, check out Motor Age Technical Editor Pete Meier's coverage of the Mobile Air Conditioning Society Worldwide conference to see videos and read more about HFR-1234yf. You also can visit www.TakingTheHill.com.
