&EPA
               United States
               Environmental Protection
               Agency
                         Air and Radiation
                         16205J)
               EPA-430-F-93-010
               June 1993
Stratospheric Ozone  Protection
                                •
 Final Rule  Summary
                            COMPLYING WITH
               THE REFRIGERANT RECYCLING RULE
      This fact sheet provides an overview of
   the refrigerant  recycling requirements of
   section 608 of the Clean Air Act, 1990, as
   amended (CAA), including final regulations
   published on May 14, 1993 (58 FR 28660),
   and the prohibition on venting that became
   effective on July 1, 1992.
            TABLE OF CONTENTS

     Overview	  1
     Prohibition on Venting	  2
     Regulatory Requirements	  2
      Service Practice Requirements  ....  2
        Table 1: Levels of Evacuation . .  3
      Equipment Certification  ........  4
      Equipment Crandfathering ......  4
      Refrigerant Leaks ". ... ....  .....  4
      Technician Certification  .......... 5
      Refrigerant Sales Restrictions ....  5
      Certification by
        Owners of Equipment	  5
        Equipment Certification Form  ...  7
      Reclaimer Certification	  6
      MVAC-like Appliances	  6
      Safe Disposal Requirements	  6
      Recordkeeping Requirements  ....  9
      Hazardous Waste Disposal  	  9
     Enforcement 	10
     Planning and Acting for the Future  . 10
     For Further Information	10
     Definitions 	11
     Table 2: Compliance Dates	12
                                          Overview

                                Under section 608 of the CAA, EPA has
                            established regulations that:

                             •   Require service practices that maximize
                                recycling of ozone-depleting compounds
                                (both chlorofluorocarbons  [CFCs] and
                                hydrochlorofluorocarbons  [HCFCs])
                                during the servicing and disposal of air-
                                conditioning  and  refrigeration equip-
                                ment.

                             •   Set certification requirements for recy-
                                cling and recovery equipment, techni-
                                cians, and reclaimers.

                             •   Restrict the sale of refrigerant to certi-
                                fied technicians.

                             e   Require persons servicing or disposing
                                of  air-conditioning and  refrigeration
                                equipment to certify to EPA that they
                                have acquired recycling  or recovery
                                equipment and are complying with the
                                requirements of the rule.
                                                             m
Require the repair of substantial leaks *•*
air-conditioning and refrigeration equip-
ment with a charge of greater than 50
pounds.

Establish safe disposal requirements to
ensure  removal of refrigerants  from
                                                               ftocyctodfttocyciabl*
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                                                               « Kan SOX racyctod SMf

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    goods that enter the waste stream with
    the charge intact (e.g., motor vehicle air
    conditioners,  home refrigerators,  and
    room air conditioners).

      The Prohibition on Venting

    Effective July 1,  1992, section 608 of
the Act prohibits individuals from knowingly
venting ozone-depleting compounds used as
refrigerants into the atmosphere while main-
taining, servicing, repairing, or disposing of
air-conditioning or refrigeration equipment.
Only  four types of releases are permitted
under the prohibition:

    "De minimis" quantities of refrigerant
    released in  the  course of making good
    faith attempts to recapture and recycle
    or safely dispose of refrigerant.

2.  Refrigerants emitted  in  the course of
    normal operation of air-conditioning and
    refrigeration equipment (as  opposed to
    during   the  maintenance,   servicing,
    repair,  or disposal of this  equipment)
    such as  from mechanical purging  and
    leaks.  However,  EPA is requiring the
    repair of substantial leaks.

3.-  Mixtures of nitrogen and R-22 that are
    used as holding charges or as leak  test
    gases, because in these cases, the ozone-
    depleting compound is not used as a
    refrigerant.  However, a technician may
    not  avoid  recovering  refrigerant  by
    adding  nitrogen to a  charged  system;
    before nitrogen is added,  the  system
    must  be evacuated to the  appropriate
    level in Table 1.  Otherwise,  the CFC
    or HCFC vented along with the nitrogen
    will be considered a refrigerant.  Simi-
    larly, pure  CFCs or HCFCs released
    from appliances will be presumed to be
    refrigerants, and  their release will be
    considered a violation of the prohibition
    on venting.

4.  Small  releases of refrigerant  which
    result from purging hoses or from con-
    necting or disconnecting hoses to charge
    or service appliances will not be consid-
    ered violations of  the prohibition  on
    venting.  However, recovery and recy-
    cling  equipment   manufactured   after
    November  15, 1993, must  equipped
    with low-loss fittings.

        Regulatory Requirements

Service  Practice Requirements
                                       i
    1. Evacuation Requirements. Beginning
July 13, 1993,  technicians are  required to
evacuate air-conditioning  and refrigeration
equipment to established vacuum levels.  If
the technician's recovery or recycling equip-
ment is manufactured any time before No-
vember 15,  1993,  the air-conditioning and
refrigeration  equipment must be evacuated
to the levels described in the first column of
Table 1.  If the technician's  recovery  or
recycling equipment is manufactured  on or
after November 15, 1993,  the air-condition-
ing and refrigeration  equipment must  be
evacuated to the  levels described  in  the
second column of Table 1, and the recovery
or  recycling equipment must  have been
certified by  an  EPA-approved equipment
testing organization (see Equipment Certifi-
cation, below).

    Technicians repairing  small appliances,
such as household refrigerators, household
freezers, and water coolers, are required to
recover  80-90 percent of the refrigerant in
the system, depending on the status of the
system's compressor.
                                         -2-

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          :'•',• •.-.••.":--".-•••• '*•:•    '".. -T= v-  ' TABLE 1  "•
                    REQUIRED LEVELS OF EVACUATION FOR APPLIANCES
           EXCEPT FOR SMALL APPLIANCES, MVACS, AND MVAC-LIKE APPLIANCES
'••...•-. Type of Appliance
HCFC-22 appliance" normally containing less
than 200 pounds of refrigerant
HCFC-22 appliance" normally containing 200
pounds or more of refrigerant
Other high-pressure appliance" normally con-
taining less than 200 pounds of refrigerant
(CFC-12, -500, -502, -114)
Other high-pressure appliance" normally con-
taining 200 pounds or more of refrigerant
(CFC-12, -500, -502, -114)
Very High Pressure Appliance (CFC-13, -503)
Low-Pressure Appliance (CFC-11, HCFC-123)
Inches of Mercury Vacuum*
Using Equipment .Manufactured:
Before Nov. 1 5,
1993
0
4
4
4
0
25
On or after Nov. 15,
1993
0
10
10
15
0
25 mm Hg absolute
   'Relative to standard atmospheric pressure of 29.9* Hg.
   "Or isolated component of such an appliance
    2,   Exceptions  to Evacuation Require-
ments.   EPA has established limited excep-
tions to its evacuation requirements  for  1)
repairs  to leaky equipment and 2) repairs
that are not major and that  are not followed
by an  evacuation of the equipment  to the
environment.

    If,  due to 'eaks, evacuation to the levels
in Table 1 is not attainable,..or would sub-
stantially contaminate the refrigerant being
recovered,  persons opening the appliance
must:

•   isolate leaking from non-leaking compo-
    nents wherever possible;
    evacuate non-leaking components to the
    levels in Table 1; and

.   evacuate leaking  components  to  the
    lowest level that can be attained without
    substantially contaminating the refriger-
    ant.  This level cannot exceed 0 psig.

    If evacuation of the equipment to  the
environment is not to be performed when
repairs are complete, and if the repair is  not
major, then  the appliance must:

•   be evacuated to at least 0 psig before it
    is opened if it is a high- or very high-
    pressure appliance; or .
                                          -3-

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    be pressurized  to  0 psig before it is
    opened if it is a low-pressure appliance.
    Methods that require subsequent purging
    (e.g., nitrogen) cannot be used.

"Major" repairs are those involving removal
of the compressor, condenser,  evaporator,
or auxiliary heat exchanger coil.

    3.  Reclamation Requirement. EPA has
also established  that refrigerant recovered
and/or recycled can be returned to the same
system or other systems owned by the same
person without restriction.   If  refrigerant
changes ownership, however, that refriger-
ant must be reclaimed  (i.e., cleaned  to the
ARI 700 standard of purity and  chemically
analyzed to verify  that it meets this stan-
dard).  This provision  will expire in May,
1995, when it may be replaced  an off-site
recycling standard.

Equipment Certification

    The Agency has established a certifica-
tion program  for  recovery and recycling
equipment.  Under the program, EPA re-
quires  that equipment  manufactured  on  or
after November  15, 1993, be tested  by  an
EPA-approved testing organization to ensure
that it meets EPA requirements.  Recycling
and  recovery  equipment intended  for  use
with  air-conditioning   and  refrigeration
equipment besides small appliances must be
tested under the ARI 740-1993 test protocol,
which is included in the final rule as Appen-
dix B.  Recovery equipment intended for use
with small appliances  must be tested  under
either the ARI 740-1993 protocol or Appen-
dix C  of the  final rule.   The  Agency is
requiring recovery efficiency standards that
vary depending on the  size and  type of air-
conditioning  or  refrigeration   equipment
being serviced. For recovery and recycling
equipment intended for use with air-condi-
tioning and refrigeration equipment besides
small appliances,  these standards  are  the
same as those in the second column of Table
1.  Recovery equipment  intended  for use
with small appliances must be able to recov-
er 90 percent of the refrigerant in the small
appliance when the small appliance compres-
sor is operating and 80 percent of the refrig-
erant in the small appliance when the com-
pressor is not operating.

Equipment Grandfathering

    Equipment manufactured before Novem-
ber 15,  1993, including home-made equip-
ment, will be grandfathered if it meets  the
standards in  the first column of Table 1.
Third-party testing is not required for equip-
ment manufactured before  November  15,
1993, but equipment manufactured on or
after that date, including home-made equip-
ment, must be tested  by a third-party (see
Equipment Certification above).

Refrigerant Leaks

    Owners  of equipment with charges of
greater than 50 pounds are  required to repair
substantial leaks.  A 35 percent annual leak
rate is established for  the industrial  process
and commercial refrigeration sectors as the
trigger for requiring  repairs.  An annual
leak rate of 15 percent of charge per year is
established for comfort cooling chillers and
all other equipment with a charge of over 50
pounds  oth-r  than  industrial  process and
commercial refrigeration equipment. Own-
ers of  air-conditioning and  refrigeration
equipment with  more  than 50 pounds of
charge must keep records of the quantity of
refrigerant added to their equipment during
servicing and maintenance procedures.
                                          -4-

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 Mandatory Technician Certification

    EPA has established a mandatory techni-
 cian certification program. The Agency has
 developed four types of certification:

 •  For servicing small appliances (Type I).

 •  For servicing  or disposing of high- or
    very  high-pressure appliances, except
    small appliances and MVACs (Type II).

    For servicing or disposing of low-pres-
    sure appliances (Type III)

 •  For servicing  all  types  of equipment
    (Universal).

    Persons removing refrigerant from small
 appliances and motor vehicle air condition-
 ers for  purposes of disposal of these appli-
 ances do not  have  to be certified.

    Technicians are required to  pass an
 EPA-approved test given by an EPA-ap-
 proved  certifying  organization to become
 certified  under the mandatory  program.
 Technicians must be certified by November
 14, 1994.  EPA expects to  have approved
 some certifying organizations by September
 of .this .year.   The Stratospheric Ozone
 Hotline will   distribute lists of  approved
 organizations at that time.

    EPA plans to "grandfather" individuals
 who have  already  participated in training
 and testing programs provided the testing
 programs 1)  are approved by EPA and 2)
 provide additional, EPA-approved materials
 or testing to these individuals to ensure that
 they have the required level of knowledge.

    Although any organization may apply to
become an approved certifier, EPA plans to
 give priority to national organizations able
 to  reach  large numbers of people.   EPA
 encourages smaller training organizations to
 make  arrangements  with  national  testing
 organizations   to  administer  certification
 examinations  at  the  conclusion  of  their
 courses.

 Refrigerant Sales Restrictions

    Under Section 609 of the Clean Air Act,
 sales of CFC-12 in containers smaller than
 20  pounds are now restricted to technicians
 certified under  EPA's motor vehicle air
 conditioning regulations. Persons servicing
 appliances other than motor  vehicle air
 conditioners  may  still buy  containers of
 CFC-12 larger than 20 pounds.

    After November  14, 1994, the sale of
 refrigerant in any  size  container will be
 restricted   to  technicians  certified  either
 under the program described in Technician
 Certification above or under EPA's motor
 vehicle  air conditioning regulations.

 Certification by Owners of Recycling and
 Recovery Equipment

    EPA is requiring  that persons servicing
 or disposing of air-conditioning and refriger-
 ation equipment certify to EPA  that  they
 have acquired  (built, bought, or  leased)
 recovery or recycling equipment and that
 they are complying with the applicable re-
quirements of this rule.  This certification
must be signed by the owner of the equip-
 ment or another responsible officer and sent
to the appropriate EPA Regional Office by
August  12, 1993.  A  sample form for this
certification is attached.  Although owners
of recycling and recovery equipment are re-
quired to list the number of trucks based at
their shops, they do not need to have a piece
                                          -5-

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of  recycling or  recovery equipment for
every truck.

Reclaimer Certification

    Reclaimers are required to return refrig-
erant to the purity level  specified  in ARI
Standard 700-1988 (an industry-set purity
standard) and to verify this purity using the
laboratory  protocol set forth  in  the  same
standard.   In  addition,  reclaimers  must
release  no more  than 1.5 percent of the
refrigerant during the reclamation  process
and  must dispose of wastes properly.  Re-
claimers must certify by August 12, 1993,
to the Section 608 Recycling Program Man-
ager  at  EPA headquarters that  they are
complying with these requirements and that
the information given is true and correct.
The certification must also include the name
and  address of the reclaimer and  a list of
equipment  used to reprocess and to analyze
the refrigerant.

    EPA encourages  reclaimers to partici-
pate in  third-party  reclaimer  certification
programs,  such as that operated by the Air-
Conditioning  and  Refrigeration  Institute
(ARI). Third-party certification can enhance
the attractiveness of a reclaimer's product by
providing  an  objective assessment  of its
purity.   . . '

MVAC-like Appliances

    Some of the air conditioners that are
covered  by this rule are identical to motor
vehicle air conditioners (MVACs), but they
are  not covered by the MVAC refrigerant
recycling rule (40 CFR Part 82 Subpart B)
because  they are used in vehicles that are
not defined as "motor vehicles."  These air
conditioners include many systems used in
construction  equipment,   farm  vehicles,
boats, and airplanes.  Like MVACs in cars
and trucks, these air  conditioners  typically
contain two or three pounds of CFC-12 and
use open-drive  compressors  to cool  the
passenger compartments of vehicles. (Vehi-
cle air conditioners utilizing HCFC-22 are
not included in this group and  are therefore
subject to the requirements outlined above
for HCFC-22 equipment.)  EPA is defining
these air conditioners as "MVAC-like appli-
ances" and is applying the MVAC rule's re-
quirements for the  certification and use of
recycling and recovery equipment  to them.
That is,  technicians servicing MVAC-like
appliances must "properly use" recycling or
recovery equipment that has been  certified
to meet the standards in Appendix A  to 40
CFR Part 82, Subpart B.  In addition, EPA
is allowing technicians who service MVAC-
like appliances to be certified by a certifica-
tion program  approved  under the MVAC
rule, if they wish.

Safe Disposal Requirements

    Under EPA's rule,  equipment that is
typically dismantled on-site before disposal
(e.g., retail food refrigeration, cold storage
warehouse refrigeration, chillers, and indus-
trial process  refrigeration) has to  have the
refrigerant recovered  in accordance  with
EPA's requirements for servicing.  Howev-
er, equipment that typically enters the waste
stream with the  charge intact (e.g., motor
vehicle air conditioners, household refrigera-
tors and freezers, and  room air conditioners)
is subject to special  safe disposal require-
ments.

    Under  these  requirements,  the   final
person in the disposal chain  (e.g., a  scrap
metal recycler or landfill owner) is responsi-
ble for ensuring that refrigerant is recovered
from equipment before the final disposal of
                                          -6-

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                                                                                   CMB#  2060-0256
                                                                                   Expiration Date:  5/96
            THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)
                        REFRIGERANT RECOVERY OR RECYCUNG DEVICE
                              ACQUISITION CERTIFICATION FORM
     EPA regulations require establishments that service or dispose of refrigeration or air conditioning equipment
     to certify by August 12.1993 that they have acquired recovery or recycling devices that meset EPA standards
     for. such devices. To certify that you have acquired equipment, please cbmplete.this form according to
     the instructions and mail it to the appropriate EPA Regional Office.  BOTH THE INSTRUCTIONS AND
     MAILING ADDRESSES CAN BE FOUND ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS FORM.
       PART1:  ESTABLISHMENT INFORMATION
         Name of Estabusnment                             Street
         (Area Code) Telephone Numoer
                                                    City
                                                                       State
                                                                                   ZID Code
            ner of Service Ver.icies Basea at Establishment
                                                   County
     PART 2:  REGULATORY CLASSIFICATION

           Identify the type of work performed by the establishment.  Check all boxes that apply.

         D Type A-Service small appliances
         O Type B -Service refrigeration or air conditioning equipment other than small appliances
         D Type C -Dispose of small appliances
         O Type D -Dispose of refrigeration or air conditioning equipment other than small appliances
     PART 3:  DEVICE IDENTIFICATION
                Name of Dewcels) Manufacturer
                                        Model Nuircer
                                                     Year
                                                             Sera Number (if any)
                                                                                Check Box it Self-
                                                                                  Contained
•
•2 • . •
3
4
5
6
7





















0
0
0
O
O
O
O
     PART 4:  CERTIFICATION SIGNATURE

             I certify that the establishment in Part 1 has acquired the refrigerant recovery or recycling device(s) listed in
             Part 2, that the establishment is complying with Section 608 regulations, and that the information given is true
             and correct.
               Signature of Owner/Responsible Officer
Date
       Name (Rease Print)
                            Title
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O»» ol Mwng«m.ni ana Budo^t w«ir,nQior DC 20S03 mirue 'Anwiticn Dm< Olte»r of EPA" DO NOT SEND THIS FORM TO THE ABOVE ADDRESSES OH.Y SEND CCM»*rVTS TO THESE

ADDRESSES

                                                      -7-

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  Instruction*
  EPA Rtgiontl Office*
   Part 1:  Please provide the name, address, and telephone
  number of the establishment where the refrigerant recovery
  or recycling device(s) is (are) located. Please complete
  one form for each location.  State the number of vehicles
  based at this location that are used to transport technicians
  and equipment to and from service sites.

   Part 2:  Check the appropriate boxes for the type of work
  performed by technicians who are employees of the
  establishment.  The term 'small appliance* refers to any of
  the'following products that are fully manufactured, charged,
  and hermetically sealed in a factory with five pounds or
  less of refrigerant: refrigerators and freezers designed for
  home use, room air conditioners (including window air
  conditioners and packaged  terminal air conditioners),
  packaged terminal heat pumps, dehumidifiers,  under-the-
  counter ice makers, vending machines, and drinking water
  coolers.

   Part 3: For each recovery or recycling device acquired,
  please list the name of the manufacturer of the  device, and
  (if applicable) its model number and serial number.
   If more than 7 devices have been acquired, please fill out
  an additional form and  attach it to this one.  Recovery
  devices that are self-contained should  be listed first and
  should be identified by checking the box in the last column
  on the right. Self-contained  recovery equipment means
  refrigerant recovery or recycling equipment that is capable
  of removing the refrigerant from an appliance without the
  assistance of components contained in the appliance. On
  the other hand, system-dependent recovery equipment
  means refrigerant recovery equipment  that requires the
  assistance of components contained in an appliance to
  remove the refrigerant from the appliance.
   If the establishment has been listed as Type B and/or
  Type  D in Part 2. then the first device listed in Part 3 must
  be a self-contained device and identified as such by
  checking the box in the last  column on the right.
   If any of the devices are homemade, they should  be
  identified by writing 'homemade' in the column provided
  for listing the name of the device Manufacturer. Type A or
  Type  B establishments can use homemade devices
  manufactured before November. 15, .1993- Type C or Type
.  D establishments can use homemade device's
  manufactured anytime.  If. however, a Type C'OrType D
  establishment is using homemade equipment manufactured
  after  November 15. 1993. then it must not use these
 devices tor service jobs.

   Part 4: This form must be signed by either th.e owner of
 the establishment or another responsible officer. The
 person who signs is certifying that the establishment has
 acquired the equipment, that the establishment  '
 complying with Section 606 regulations, and that the
 information  provided is true and correct.
                                                          -8-
  Send your form to the EPA office listed under the state or
  territory in which the establishment is located.

  Connecticut Maine, Massacnusetts. New Hampshire,
  Rhode Island, Vermont

           CAA 608 Enforcement Contact: EPA Region I,
           Mail Code APC, JFK Federal Building, One
           Congress Street Boston, MA 02203

  New York, New Jersey, Puerto' Rico, Virgin- Islands

           CAA 608 Enforcement Contact: EPA Region II,
           Jacob K. Javits Federal Building, Room 5000, 26
           Federal Plaza. New York, NY 10278

  Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania,
  Virginia, West Virginia

           CAA 608 Enforcement Contact: EPA Region III,
           Mail Code 3AT21, 841  Chestnut Building,
           Philadelphia.  PA 19107

  Alabama,  Florida, Georgia. Kentucky, Mississippi, North
  Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee

           CAA 608 Enforcement Contact: EPA Region IV, .
           Mail Code APT-AE, 345 Courtland Street, NE,
          Atlanta, GA 30365

  Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota. Ohio, Wisconsin

          CAA 608 Enforcement  Contact:  EPA  Region V,
          Mail Code AT18J, 77 W. Jacks.on Blvd., Chicago,
          IL 60604

 Arkansas,  Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas

          CAA 608 Enforcement Contact:  EPA  Region VI,
          Mail Code 6T-EC, First Interstate Tower at
          Fountain Place. 1445 Ross Ave., Suite 1200,
          Dallas TX 75202  .

 Iowa. Kansas, Missouri,  Nebraska

          CAA 608 Enforcement Contact:  EPA Region VII,
          Mail Code ARTX/ARBR, 726 Minnesota Ave.,
          Kansas City, KS 66101

 Colorado.  Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah,
• Wyoming

          CAA 608 Enforcement Contact: EPA Region VIII,
          Mail Code 8AT-AP, 999 18th Street,  Suite 500,
          Denver, CO 80202

 American Samoa, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii,
 Nevada

          CAA 608 Enforcement Contact: EPA Region IX,
          Mail Code A-3. 75 Hawthorne Street, San
       •   Francisco, CA 94105

 Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington

         CAA 608 Enforcement Contact: EPA Region X.
         Mail Code AT-082, 1200 Sixth Ave.,  Seattle, WA
         98101

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the equipment.   However,  persons "up-
stream"  can remove  the  refrigerant  and
provide documentation of its removal to the
final person if this is more cost-effective.

    The equipment used to recover refriger-
ant from appliances  prior to their final
disposal  must meet the same "performance
standards" as equipment used prior to  ser-
vicing, but it does not need to be tested by
a  laboratory.   This  means  that  self-built
equipment is allowed as long as it  meets the
performance requirements.   For MVACs
and MVAC-like appliances, the performance
requirement is 102 mm of mercury vacuum
and for small appliances, the recover equip-
ment  performance  requirements  are   90
percent efficiency when the appliance com-
pressor is operational, and  80 percent effi-
ciency when the appliance compressor is not
operational.

    Technician  certification is not required
for individuals  removing refrigerant from
appliances in the waste stream.

    The  safe  disposal  requirements  are
effective on  July 13, 1993.  The equipment
must  be registered or certified  with  the
Agency by  August 12,-1993.  A  sample
form is attached.

Major Recordkeeping  Requirements

Technicians servicing appliances that contain
50 or more pounds  of refrigerant must
provide  the  owner with an  invoice  that
indicates the amount of refrigerant added to
the appliance.  Technicians must also keep
a copy of their proof of certification  at their
place  of business.

Owners of appliances that contain 50 or
more  pounds of refrigerant must  keep ser-
vicing records documenting the date and
type of service, as well as  the quantity of
refrigerant added.

Wholesalers who sell CFC  and  HCFC re-
frigerants must retain invoices that indicate
the name of the purchaser, the date of sale,.
and the quantity of refrigerant purchased,

Reclaimers must maintain  records  of the
names and  addresses  of persons sending
them material for reclamation and the quan-
tity of material sent to them for reclamation.
This information must be maintained on a
transactional basis.  Within  30 days of the
end of the calendar  year, reclaimers  must
report to EPA the total quantity of material
sent to them that year for reclamation, the
mass of refrigerant reclaimed that year, and
the mass of waste products generated  that
year.

Hazardous Waste Disposal

    If refrigerants are recycled or reclaimed,
they are not  considered hazardous  under
federal law. In addition, used oils contami-
nated  with CFCs are  not hazardous on the
condition that:

    They are not mixed with other waste.

•   They are subjected to CFC recycling or
    reclamation.

•   They are not mixed with used oils from
    other sources.

    Used oils  that  contain CFCs after the
CFC reclamation procedure, however, are
subject to specification limits for used oil
fuels if these oils are  destined for burning.
Individuals with questions  regarding  the
proper handling of these materials  should
                                          -9-

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contact EPA's RCRA Hotline at 800-424-
9346 or 703-920^9810.

              Enforcement

    EPA is performing random inspections,
responding to tips,  and pursuing potential
cases against violators. Under the Act, EPA
is authorized to assess fines of  up  to
$25,000 per day for any violation of these
regulations.

   Planning and Acting for the Future

    Observing  the   refrigerant  recycling
regulations for section 608 is essential  in
order to conserve existing stocks of refriger-
ants, as well  as to comply  with Clean Air
Act  requirements.    However, owners  of
equipment that contains  CFC refrigerants
should  look beyond the  immediate need  to
maintain existing  equipment  in working
order.   EPA  urges equipment owners  to
act now and  prepare for the phaseout of
CFCs, which will be completed by Janu-
ary 1, 1996.  Owners are advised to begin
the process  of converting or replacing ex-
isting equipment with equipment that uses
alternative refrigerants.

    To assist owners, suppliers, technicians
and others involved in comfort chiller and
commercial refrigeration management,  EPA
has published a series of short fact sheets
and expects  to produce additional material.
Copies of material produced by the  EPA
Stratospheric Protection  Division are avail-
able from the Stratospheric Ozone Informa-
tion Hotline  (see hotline number below).

        For Further Information

    For  further  information  concerning
regulations related  to stratospheric  ozone
protection,  please  call   the  Stratospheric
Ozone Information Hotline:  800-296-1996.
The Hotline is open between  10:00 AM and
4:00 PM, Eastern Time.
                                        -10-

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                                        DEFINITIONS
Appliance
Major maintenance,
service, or repair

MVAC-like appliance
Reclaim
Recover
Recycle
Self-contained recovery
equipment
Small appliance
System-dependent
recovery equipment

Technician
Any device which contains and uses a class I (CFC) or class II (HCFC)
substance  as a refrigerant  and which is used  for  household  or
commercial purposes, including any air conditioner, refrigerator, chiller,
or freezer.  EPA interprets this definition to include all air-conditioning
and refrigeration equipment except that designed and used exclusively
fpr military purposes.

Maintenance, service, or repair that involves removal of the appliance
compressor, condenser, evaporator, or auxiliary heat exchanger coil.

Mechanical vapor compression, open-drive compressor appliances used
to cool the driver's or passenger's compartment of a non-road vehicle,
including agricultural  and construction vehicles.   This  definition
excludes appliances using HCFC-22.

To reprocess refrigerant to at least the purity specified in the ARI
Standard 700-1988, Specifications for Fluorocarbon Refrigerants, and
to verify this purity using the analytical methodology prescribed in the
Standard.

To remove  refrigerant in any condition from an appliance and store it
in an external container without necessarily testing or processing it in
any way.

To extract refrigerant from an appliance and clean refrigerant for reuse
without meeting all of the requirements for reclamation. In general,
recycled refrigerant is refrigerant that is cleaned using oil separation
and single or multiple passes through devices, such as replaceable/core
filter-driers, which reduce moisture,  acidity, and paniculate matter.

Recovery or  recycling equipment that  is  capable  of  removing the
refrigerant from  an  appliance without the assistance of components
contained in the  appliance.

Any.of  the following products that  are fully manufactured, charged,
and  hermetically sealed  in  a factory  with five  pounds or  less of
refrigerant: refrigerators and freezers designed for home use, room air
conditioners (including window air conditioners and packaged terminal
air conditioners), packaged terminal heat pumps, dehumidifiers, under-
the-counter ice makers, vending machines, and drinking water coolers.

Recovery  equipment  that  requires the  assistance  of  components
contained'in an appliance to remove the refrigerant from the appliance.

Any  person who performs maintenance, service, or repair that  could
reasonably  be expected to release  class I (CFC) or class II  (HCFC)
substances into the atmosphere, including but not limited to installers,
contractor employees, in-house service personnel, and in some cases,
owners. Technician also means any person  disposing of appliances
except for small  appliances.
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                                               TABLE 2
                               MAJOR RECYCLING RULE COMPLIANCE DATES
•Date after which owners of equipment containing more than 50
pounds of refrigerant with substantial leaks must have such leaks
repaired.
•Evacuation requirements go into effect. . :::
• Recovery and recycling equipment requirements go into effect.
• Owners of recycling and recovery equipment must have certified
to EPA that they have acquired such equipment and that they
are complying with the rule.
• Reclamation requirement goes into effect.
• All newly manufactured recycling and recovery equipment must
be certified by an EPA-approved testing organization to meet the
requirements in the second column of Table 1 .
•
•All technicians must be certified.
• Sales restriction goes into effect.
•Reclamation requirement expires.
June 14, 1993
July 13, 1993
August 12, 1993
November 15,
1993
November 14,
1994
May 14, 1995
c/EPA
    United States
    Environmental Protection
    Agency
  .' (6205-J)      ' .   '
    Washington, DC 20460

    Official Business
    Penalty for Private Use
    $300

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