Cindy Newburg of the EPA’s Office of Stratospheric Ozone Protection addressed the 2010 changeover from HCFCs to HFCs.

Speaking at AHRI’s Media Roundtable, Cindy Newburg of the EPA’s Office of Stratospheric Ozone Protection addressed the 2010 changeover from HCFCs to HFCs. Newberg explained that while consumers won’t be required to stop using HCFCs or to replace equipment that uses HCFCs, the refrigerant will become scarce as the EPA continues to tighten restrictions on production. Only stockpiled or reclaimed HCFCs will be available in 2020 to service existing equipment, according to Newberg.

Newberg emphasized that EPA is serious about banning the sale and distribution in interstate commerce of all air conditioning and refrigeration equipment (including import and export) containing HCFCs or blends that contain them.

The proposed ban is currently being reviewed by the White House Office of Management and Budget. Currently, the Clean Air Act restricts import of HCFCs in bulk, but not when they are used in imported, precharged equipment.