• Fail to recover CFCs or HCFCs before opening or disposing of an appliance. • Fail to have an EPA-approved recovery device. • Add nitrogen to a fully charged system for the purpose of leak detection and thereby cause a release of the mixture. • Discard a disposable cylinder without recov- ering any remaining refrigerant, rendering the cylinder useless, and recycling the metal. • Fail to possess appropriate and approved equipment with low-loss fittings. Some state and local government regulations may contain additional or stricter regulations than those stipulated in Section 608 of the Clean Air Act. In case of conflict between the Clean Air Act and the Montreal Protocol, the more stringent law regarding the issue takes precedence. 15.3.1 Venting The Clean Air Act prohibits individuals from knowingly venting ozone-depleting compounds used as refrigerants into the atmosphere. Only four types of release are permitted: • De minimus (minor) quantities of refrigerant released in the course of making good-faith attempts to recapture and recycle or safely dispose of refrigerant. • Refrigerants emitted in the course of normal operation of air conditioning and refrigera- tion equipment, such as mechanical purging and leaks. However, the EPA is requiring the repair of substantial leaks. • Mixtures of nitrogen and R-22 used as holding charges or leak test gases. However, a techni- cian may not avoid recovering refrigerant by adding nitrogen to a charged system. • Small releases of refrigerant resulting from purging hoses or from connecting or discon- necting hoses. 15.3.2 Refrigerant Leaks Owners of equipment with charges over 50 pounds are required to repair substantial leaks. A 35% annual leak rate is the trigger for requiring repairs in the industrial process and commercial refrigeration sectors. An annual leak rate of 15% is established for comfort cooling chillers and all other equipment with charges over 50 pounds. new CFC refrigerants however, existing systems already charged with CFCs could continue in use. Since refrigerant that leaks from a system is permanently lost, the pricing and scarcity of CFCs eventually will make owning and maintaining a CFC system cost-prohibitive. Failure to comply with the EPA regulations could cost a technician and his or her company as much as $25,000 per day per violation. A bounty of up to $10,000 lures competitors, customers, and fellow workers to turn in violators. Service tech- nicians who violate the Clean Air Act provisions may be fined, lose their certification, and be required to appear in federal court. It is a violation of Section 608 of the Clean Air Act to: • Falsify or fail to keep required records. • Fail to reach the required recovery vacuum level prior to opening or disposing of appliances. An “appliance” refers to any refrigeration or air conditioning system, regardless of size. • Knowingly release (vent) CFCs or HCFCs while repairing appliances. • Service, maintain, or dispose of appliances designed to contain refrigerants without being appropriately certified. • Fail to become certified (effective November 14, 1994). • Vent CFCs or HCFCs after July 1, 1992. • Vent HFCs on or after November 15, 1995. Goodheart-Willcox Publisher Figure 15-4. Compliance dates established by the EPA under the 1990 Clean Air Act. Summary of EPA Compliance Dates Date Regulation July 1, 1992 August 13, 1992 July 13, 1993 November 15, 1993 November 14, 1994 November 14, 1994 November 15, 1995 January 1, 1996 Illegal to vent CFCs or HCFCs. MVAC technicians must be certified. Evacuation requirements in effect. Newly manufactured R&R equipment must be certified. HVAC technicians must be certified. Sale of CFCs and HCFCs restricted. Illegal to vent HFCs. Ban on CFC production. 262 Heating and Cooling Essentials Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.