Several reclaimers, refrigerant manufacturers, and distributors — operating under the title New Era Group Inc.— notified the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on April 2 that they intend to file suit against the EPA, claiming the federal agency is allowing excessive amounts of virgin and imported hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-22 into the U.S. market.
New Era wants the EPA to explain the procedures it used to justify its allocations. In addition to the 51 million pound allocation already in effect for 2014, the EPA is offering two proposals for a continued step down in R-22 production to allow a final phaseout in either 2018 or 2020, depending on the proposal.