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Supplemental Critical Uses of Methyl Bromide for 2005 Authorized

Release Date: 12/08/2005
Contact Information:

Contact: John Millett, 202-564-4355 / millett.john@epa.gov

(12/8/05) In accordance with the Clean Air Act and Montreal Protocol, EPA completed a rule authorizing a supplemental critical use exemption of 610,665 kilograms of methyl bromide for 2005. The exemptions for continued production and import of methyl bromide will honor the U.S. commitment to obtain methyl bromide for American farmers, in a manner consistent with the Montreal Protocol, while protecting the ozone layer.

Critical use exemptions are anticipated under the Montreal Protocol for circumstances where there are no technically and economically feasible alternatives to methyl bromide. Further, the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 direct the EPA to issue regulations to implement the provisions of the Montreal Protocol within the United States.

The final rule supplements the previous allowances for 2005 which totaled 35 percent of baseline methyl bromide consumption and were authorized during March 24-26, 2004 at the first Extraordinary Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol. The supplemental amount totals 2.5 percent of baseline and was authorized by the Parties to the Montreal Protocol at their 16th Meeting held during Nov. 22-26, 2004.

Methyl bromide allowances for the 2006 calendar year were established at the Second Extraordinary Meeting of the Parties on July 1, 2005, and EPA is working to make these allowances available as quickly as possible. Allowance decisions for 2007 will be made at the upcoming 17th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol in Dakar, Senegal during Dec. 12-16, 2005.

For more information on the final rule, visit: https://www.epa.gov/ozone/mbr