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.
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. New Era wants the EPA to explain the procedures it used to justify these allocations.