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EPA Proposes to Provide Car Manufacturers Additional Options in Car A/C Systems

Release Date: 09/19/2006
Contact Information: John Millett, (202) 564-4355 / millett.john@epa.gov

(9/19/06) EPA is proposing to expand the list of choices car manufacturers have when choosing non ozone-depleting refrigerants for use in vehicle air conditioning systems.

Today's action proposes to list HFC-152a and CO2 as acceptable alternatives for ozone depleting substances (ODS) in new motor vehicle air conditioning systems under the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. When used with proper risk mitigation measures, HFC-152a and CO2 can reduce the environmental impact of motor vehicle air conditioners.

The automotive industry, if they choose to adopt these technologies, would be required to comply with the conditions necessary to deploy HFC-152a and CO2 systems in a safe manner. Car manufacturers, component manufacturers and the motor vehicle air conditioning service industry have been actively engaged in the development of this rulemaking and are developing prototype systems with the use conditions defined in this proposal.

EPA will accept public comment on its proposal for 30-days following publication of the proposal in the Federal Register.

For more information, visit: epa.gov/ozone/snap/regulations.html