A petition filed on behalf of Choice Refrigerants asks the Supreme Court to reconsider a D.C. Circuit ruling that upheld the EPA’s implementation of the HFC phasedown program.
Many contractors overlook EPA 608 compliance, but expanded AIM Act rules and rising enforcement mean even good contractors face steep penalties if they can’t document proper refrigerant handling.
As industry debates the Technology Transitions rule, EPA’s ER&R rule is already in effect, imposing new leak repair, reclamation, reporting, and automatic leak detection requirements under the AIM Act.
The AIM Act and state rules have made refrigerant management mission critical, with tighter leak rules, faster timelines, and steep federal and state fines for noncompliance.
Industry groups warn that rolling back EPA’s Technology Transitions rule would cause chaos, as lawmakers push to change what they believe is an aggressive timeline and broad scope.
The case is the second prosecution under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act (AIM Act), and the first prosecution of a corporate executive under the act.
Low-GWP A2Ls provide a cost-effective alternative to pricier options like CO2 for commercial refrigeration equipment. They also feature a familiar architecture for technicians and deliver benefits such as energy efficiency and easier installation and maintenance.