EPA Proposes Phasing Out R-134a
The Agency cites the use of TCE in some R-134a production as an unreasonable risk to human health
In October 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to ban the manufacture (including import), processing, and distribution in commerce of trichloroethylene (TCE) for all uses. TCE is widely used as a solvent in a variety of industrial, commercial, and consumer applications, including for production of the HFC refrigerant, R-134a.
The majority of TCE is used during the manufacture of R-134a, which accounts for about 83.6% of TCE’s annual production volume. The proposal would prohibit the manufacture (including import) and processing of TCE as an intermediate for the manufacturing of R-134a, following an 8.5-year phaseout. While R-134a is already subject to the AIM Act’s HFC phasedown, it can be mixed with other substances to make lower-GWP blends that may be used to facilitate the transition away from high-GWP refrigerants.
The proposed risk management rule is based on EPA’s November 2020 Risk Evaluation for TCE and January 2023 revised risk determination for TCE pursuant to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). EPA determined that TCE presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health due to the significant adverse health effects associated with exposure to TCE, including non-cancer effects (liver toxicity, kidney toxicity, neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, and developmental toxicity), as well as cancer (liver, kidney, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma) from chronic inhalation and dermal exposures to TCE.
EPA will accept public comments on the proposed rule for TCE for 45 days following publication in the Federal Register via docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0642 at www.regulations.gov. To submit a comment, first navigate to the docket in regulations.gov. Then click “Browse Documents” to view the proposed risk management rule. Click on the “Comment” button to submit comments.
EPA is also hosting a webinar on November 14, 2023 at 1 p.m. Eastern time about the proposed risk management rule. For more information, visit here.
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