15.2 Montreal Protocol Scientists became aware of the effect of CFCs on the ozone layer in the 1970s. The United States banned the use of CFCs as aerosol propellants however, much of the world did not. Finally, it was determined that worldwide cooperation was imperative to solve the ozone depletion problem. In 1987, government leaders from 11 industrialized nations met in Montreal, Canada, and reached an international agreement, called the Montreal Protocol, to substantially reduce and eventually eliminate the production of ozone-depleting CFCs. The Montreal Protocol was signed by the United States and 22 other countries. Since then, more than 90 nations have ratified the Protocol. The Montreal Protocol was amended in 1990 and 1992 and continues to be modified as new information about the effects of refrigerants is uncovered. Clearly, the regulations governing the produc- tion, use, and handling of refrigerants are here to stay and will be enforced. The Montreal Protocol called for production of all CFCs to cease by January 1, 1996. When virgin supplies of CFCs are depleted, all future supplies for service require- ments must come from recovered, recycled, or reclaimed CFCs. Developing countries have an additional 10 years to complete the transition to new technologies. As of January 1, 2010 regulations in the United States stipulate that equipment produced after that date must be HCFC-free, leaving the remaining HCFCs for service requirements only. HCFCs should be available in the United States for new projects until 2010 and for the aftermarket until 2020. The schedule for total phaseout of HCFC production and use is shown in Figure 15-3. The reduced supply of HCFC-22 will most likely raise the price of the refrigerant, just as the price of CFC-12 rose when its supply dwindled. The initial reduction in usage is already occurring because of equipment conversions and the early phaseout of HCFCs for solvent cleaning and aerosol use. 15.3 The Clean Air Act While the Montreal Protocol addressed ozone depletion at the international level, the Clean Air Act dealt with the problem at the national level in the United States. The Clean Air Act (CAA), a federal law passed in 1990, contains severe restric- tions and penalties for venting, which is releasing any refrigerants to the atmosphere. Section 608 of the Clean Air Act directed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement and enforce the regulations. The EPA was also granted the authority to establish environmentally safe procedures for using refrigerants. See Figure 15-4. The ban on CFC production went into effect January 1, 1996, making it illegal to manufacture Goodheart-Willcox Publisher Figure 15-2. Ozone depletion potential (ODP) is a measurement of a refrigerant’s ability to destroy ozone molecules. Global warming potential (GWP) expresses the risk of a refrigerant contributing to global warming. Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) and Global Warming Potential (GWP) Compound ODP GWP CO2 CFC-11 CFC-12 CFC-113 CFC-114 CFC-115 HCFC-22 HCFC-123 HCFC-401A HCFC-401B HCFC-402A HCFC-402B HFC-134a HFC-125 HFC-507 0.0 1.0 (Base) 0.93 0.83 0.71 0.38 0.05 0.02 0.03 0.035 0.03 0.02 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 (Base) 1.30 3.70 1.90 6.40 13.80 0.57 0.28 0.40 Goodheart-Willcox Publisher Figure 15-3. The schedule for total phaseout of HCFC production and use. HCFC Phaseout Schedule Year Production Levels EPA Rule (HCFC-22) 1996 2004 2010 2015 2020 2030 2.8 % of 1989 use, plus 1989 HCFC use, ODP-weighted 65% of 1989 use 35% of 1989 use 10% of 1989 use 0.5% of 1989 use 0% of 1989 use Ban on new equipment Ban on production and consumption Chapter 15 Refrigerant Recovery and Recycling 261 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.