WASHINGTON — Production and importation of HCFC refrigerants including R-22 have been on hold since the first of the year while the industry waits for an official go-ahead from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
As of noon on Jan. 20, the approval has not been issued although most experts in the industry expect that it is imminent. They indicated that will come in the form of a ‘non-enforcement’ letter. That means production and importation can resume without fear of enforcement action even though the issue of how much HCFC can be produced remains a bit muddled. (Note: A letter was later issued.)