EPA's Regan Signs Proposed Rule for Refrigerant Alternatives
On May 1, 2023, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan signed a proposed rule titled, “Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Listing of Substitutes under the Significant New Alternatives Policy Program in Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration.”
This proposed action lists new alternatives for commercial and industrial refrigeration, specifically for new retail food refrigeration, new commercial ice machines, new industrial process refrigeration, new cold storage warehouses and new ice skating rinks. This action also would update use conditions for the refrigerant R-290 (propane) when used in self-contained commercial ice machines and stand-alone retail refrigeration equipment (new) and would allow for a transition period between the existing and updated use conditions. EPA is proposing these listings after its evaluation of human health and environmental information on various substitutes submitted to the SNAP program.
Under this proposed rule, 10 refrigerants would be listed as acceptable, subject to use conditions, in the Refrigeration & Air Conditioning sector.
In addition to proposing to list propane as acceptable, subject to use conditions, as a refrigerant in new refrigerated food processing and dispensing equipment, EPA is also proposing to exempt propane in this end‐use from the venting prohibition under section 608 of the Clean Air Act.
The acceptable alternatives refrigerants are:
Commercial Ice Machines (New) HFC-32, HFO-1234yf, R-454A, R-454B, R-454C, R-455A, R-457A, R-516A
Industrial Process Refrigeration (New) HFC-32, HFO-1234yf, HFO-1234ze(E), R-454A, R-454B, R-454C, R-455A, R- 457A, R-516A
Ice Skating Rinks (New) HFO-1234yf, HFO-1234ze(E), R-454C, R-455A, R-457A, R-516A
Retail Food Refrigeration (New)—Refrigerated Food Processing and Dispensing Equipment and Stand-alone Units HFO-1234yf, HFO-1234ze(E), R-454C, R-455A, R-457A, R-516A
Retail Food Refrigeration (New)—Refrigerated Food Processing and Dispensing Equipment R-290 (propane)
Retail Food Refrigeration (New)—Supermarket Systems and Remote Condensing Units HFO-1234yf, HFO-1234ze(E), R-454A, R-454C, R-455A, R-457A, R-516A
Commercial Ice Machines (New)—Self-contained Units, Retail Food Refrigeration (New)—Stand-alone Units R-290 (propane)
An advance copy of the proposed rule is available at www.epa.gov/snap/snap-regulations, which will be updated once the rule is published in the Federal Register.