Unft*dSUrtM            Office of Solid Waste
                   Environmental Protection      and Emergency RmponM       EPA/530-SW-fli-OM
                   A0«ncy               Washington DC 20460
                   Offlca of Solid Wast*
x°/EPA        Environmental
                   Fact Sheet
                   INTERIM FINAL RULE SUSPENDING
                   .APPLICATION OF THE TOXICITY
                   CHARACTERISTIC FOR USED
                   CHLOROFLUOROCARBON
                   REFRIGERANTS BEING RECLAIMED
       BACKGROUND
       TTie Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) requires that wastes
       identified as hazardous be managed and monitored from "cradle to grave."
       The federal regulations describe four characteristics that define a waste as
       hazardous: Ignitibility. corrosivlty, reactivity, and toxicity.

       On March 29. 1990. EPA promulgated revisions to the toxicity
       characteristic fTC), adding 25 new organic constituents to the list of TC
       hazardous substances.  Chloroform and carbon tetrachloride (CCU) are
       among the constituents. These constituents are present in some unused
       chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerants, and will remain in the refrigerants
       throughout their use. In certain cases, chloroform and carbon
       tetrachloride may be present at concentrations that will cause the used
       refrigerants to exhibit the TC.

       Until recently, technicians vented used refrigerant gases during
       maintenance and repair work on refrigeration and air conditioning
       systems. However, used refrigerant recycling is gaining increased
       acceptance as an industry practice in light of new Information regarding
       the potential effects of such venting on stratospheric ozone.  Recent
       amendments to the Clean Air Act require a prohibition on venting certain
       chemicals. Including some used as refrigerants.  The prohibition will
       become effective July 1, 1992.


       ACTION
       EPA is concerned that regulating used refrigerants as hazardous wastes
       may create disincentives to reclaiming refrigerants and may increase
      venting.  Therefore, EPA is suspending the hazardous waste regulations'

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coverage of used CPC refrigerants If they are reclaimed for reuse.  The
exemption does hot apply to refrigerants that are collected for disposal.
At the same time, EPA is seeking public comment on the merits of this
suspension.
CONCLUSION
EPA is promulgating this interim final rule to allow time to consider the
human health and environmental impacts of regulating used CFC
refrigerants as hazardous wastes. This rule exempts only those CPC
refrigerants that are recycled, thereby providing additional incentives to
service and maintenance technicians to reclaim CFC refrigerants for reuse.
rather than disposing of them.


PUBLIC COMMENT
EPA is requesting public comment on this rule. Comments should be sent
to EPA within 45 days of the publication date of the Federal Register
notice.  For instructions on submitting written comments, please see the
Federal Register notice.  It may be obtained at no charge by calling the
RCRA Hotline or by visiting EPA's RCRA Docket in Washington, D.C.


FOR MORE INFORMATION
For further information, or to order a copy of the Federal Register notice,
please call the RCRA Hotline Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30
p,m. EST.  Tlie national toll-free number is (800) 424-9346; for the hearing
impaired, it is fTDD) (800) 553-7672. In Washington, D.C., the number is
(703) 920-9810 or TDD (703) 486-3323.

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