EPA’s SNAP Program to Allow Use of Propane in Certain Refrigeration Equipment
Also proposes to exempt propane from venting prohibition
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program has proposed to list as acceptable, subject to restrictions, the use of propane in certain commercial refrigeration applications.
This action also proposes to exempt propane from the Clean Air Act Section 608 prohibition on venting, release, or disposal on the basis that it does not pose a threat to the environment.
For refrigeration, EPA is proposing to list as acceptable, subject to use conditions, the use of propane in new commercial ice machines, new water coolers, and new very low temperature refrigeration equipment.
For retrofit residential and light commercial air conditioners and heat pumps, EPA is proposing to list as unacceptable all refrigerants identified as flammability Class 3 in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 34–2013.
EPA is further proposing to list as unacceptable all refrigerants meeting the criteria for flammability Class 3 in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 34–2013. These include, according to the agency, refrigerant products sold under the names R-22a, 22a, Blue Sky 22a refrigerant, Coolant Express 22a, DURACOOL-22a, EC-22, Ecofreeeze EF-22a, EF-22a, Envirosafe 22a, ES-22a, Frost 22a, HC- 22a, Maxi-Fridge, MX-22a, Oz-Chill 22a, Priority Cool, and RED TEK 22a.
For new residential and light commercial air conditioners and heat pumps, cold storage warehouses, centrifugal chillers, and positive displacement chillers, EPA is proposing to list as unacceptable the use of propylene and R-443A.
In addition, EPA is proposing to list as unacceptable a number of HFCs in specific end uses such as new centrifugal chillers, new positive displacement chillers, new cold storage warehouses, new retail food refrigeration, and new household refrigerators and freezers.
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The EPA has submitted this proposed rule for publication in the Federal Register and will be accepting comments. Submit comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2015-0663, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
A fact sheet on the proposed rule is available here.
Publication date: 3/31/2016
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