83 FR 19757 - Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Notice of Data Availability; Information Concerning HCFC-123 and HCFC-124 Production, Consumption, and Use

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 87 (May 4, 2018)

Page Range		19757-19758
FR Document		2018-09557

Today's notice announces the availability of The U.S. Phaseout of HCFCs: Projected Servicing Demand in the U.S. Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and Fire Suppression Sectors (2020-2030). The draft document is an update to reports EPA has issued in the past, such as The U.S. Phaseout of HCFCs: Projected Servicing Needs in the U.S. Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and Fire Suppression Sectors Updated for 2015 to 2025, most recently issued in 2014. This document contains information that revises estimates of potential future market demand for HCFC-123 and HCFC-124 based on current uses in air-conditioning, refrigeration, and fire suppression equipment and considers the availability of recovered HCFCs. This information may be relevant to an upcoming rulemaking regarding allowances for consumption and production of HCFC-123 and HCFC-124 for the 2020-2029 regulatory period. Comments submitted in response to today's Notice of Data Availability (NODA) may be used as the Agency prepares for that rulemaking.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 87 (Friday, May 4, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 87 (Friday, May 4, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19757-19758]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-09557]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2018-0003; FRL-9977-41-OAR]


Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Notice of Data Availability; 
Information Concerning HCFC-123 and HCFC-124 Production, Consumption, 
and Use

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of data availability.

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SUMMARY: Today's notice announces the availability of The U.S. Phaseout 
of HCFCs: Projected Servicing Demand in the U.S. Air Conditioning, 
Refrigeration, and Fire Suppression Sectors (2020-2030). The draft 
document is an update to reports EPA has issued in the past, such as 
The U.S. Phaseout of HCFCs: Projected Servicing Needs in the U.S. Air 
Conditioning, Refrigeration, and Fire Suppression Sectors Updated for 
2015 to 2025, most recently issued in 2014. This document contains 
information that revises estimates of potential future market demand 
for HCFC-123 and HCFC-124 based on current uses in air-conditioning, 
refrigeration, and fire suppression equipment and considers the 
availability of recovered HCFCs. This information may be relevant to an 
upcoming rulemaking regarding allowances for consumption and production 
of HCFC-123 and HCFC-124 for the 2020-2029 regulatory period. Comments 
submitted in response to today's Notice of Data Availability (NODA) may 
be used as the Agency prepares for that rulemaking.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 18, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2018-0003, at https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot 
be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. EPA may publish any comment 
received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically any 
information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) 
or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. 
Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a 
written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment 
and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. EPA will 
generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of 
the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other file sharing 
system). For additional submission methods, the full EPA public comment 
policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions, and general 
guidance on making effective comments, please visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katherine Sleasman, Stratospheric 
Protection Division, (6205T), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 
564-7716; fax number: (202) 343-2362; email address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. General Information

A. Does this action apply to me?

    This notice announces the availability of data and analysis 
relevant to the production, consumption, and use of HCFC-123 and HCFC-
124. This notice of data availability may be of interest to:

 Air-Conditioning and Warm Air Heating Equipment and Commercial 
and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing entities (NAICS 
code 333415)
 Air-Conditioning Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers 
(NAICS code 423620)
 Fire Extinguisher Chemical Preparations Manufacturing (NAICS 
code 325998)
 Industrial Gas Manufacturing (NAICS code 325120)
 Materials Recovery Facilities (NAICS code 562920)
 Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing 
(NAICS code 336413)
 Other Chemical and Allied Production Merchant Wholesalers 
(NAICS code 424690)
 Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (NAICS 
code 238220)
 Portable Fire Extinguishers Manufacturing (NAICS code 339999)

    This list is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a 
guide for readers regarding entities likely to be interested in this 
notice.

II. What data are available?

    EPA is announcing the availability of a draft report, The U.S. 
Phaseout of HCFCs: Projected Servicing Demand in the U.S. Air 
Conditioning, Refrigeration and Fire Suppression Sectors (2020-2030), 
in docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2018-0003. The information gathered and presented 
in the report concerns the end-uses in air conditioning and 
refrigeration as well as fire suppression sectors that currently use 
HCFC-123 and HCFC-124. Readers should note that EPA will only consider 
comments about the information presented in The U.S. Phaseout of HCFCs: 
Projected Servicing Demand in the U.S. Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, 
and Fire Suppression Sectors (2020-2030) and is not soliciting comments 
on any other topic.

[[Page 19758]]

A. How does this relate to the HCFC phaseout schedule?

    Section 605 of the Clean Air Act addresses the production, 
consumption, use, and introduction into interstate commerce of class II 
controlled substances (listed HCFCs) within the United States. Sections 
605 and 606 taken together constitute the primary source of authority 
for the domestic implementation of U.S. obligations to phase out HCFCs 
under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer 
(Montreal Protocol). EPA regulations issued under sections 605 and 606 
appear at 40 CFR part 82 Subpart A. Those regulations reflect the 
agreed Montreal Protocol HCFC phaseout schedule. One element of that 
phaseout schedule is a commitment to phase out HCFC production and 
consumption by January 1, 2020, other than production and consumption 
during the years 2020-2029 for the servicing of air-conditioning and 
refrigeration equipment existing on January 1, 2020, in an amount up to 
0.5% of baseline annually. See Montreal Protocol Article 2F. Consistent 
with that schedule, Subpart A prohibits most production and import of 
HCFCs as of January 1, 2020, while preserving the possibility of 
limited production and import of certain HCFCs for the servicing of 
air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment manufactured before that 
date. See 40 CFR 82.16.
    Subpart A prohibits the production and import of class II 
controlled substances without allowances. 40 CFR 82.15(a), (b). EPA has 
issued rules allocating HCFC production and consumption allowances for 
specified regulatory periods. In 2014, EPA issued a rule titled 
``Adjustments to the Allowance System for Controlling HCFC Production, 
Import and Export, 2015-2019'' (79 FR 64254), which allocated chemical-
specific production and consumption allowances for each year of the 
2015-2019 regulatory period. Information concerning the production, 
consumption, and use of HCFC-123 and HCFC-124 may be relevant to a 
rulemaking to address the HCFC phaseout in 2020 and beyond. Prior to 
use of the information in the draft report to support a proposed rule, 
EPA is providing the public with an opportunity to review and comment 
on that information.

B. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for EPA?

    EPA is seeking comment on the accuracy of the data and analysis 
presented in the draft report. Based on feedback, EPA intends to revise 
the report and release an updated version at the same time the agency 
issues a proposed rule governing the 2020-2029 regulatory period.
    You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your 
comments: Explain your views as clearly as possible; describe any 
assumptions that you used; provide any technical information or data 
you used that support your views; provide specific examples to 
illustrate your concerns; offer alternatives; and make sure to submit 
your comments by the comment period deadline identified. Please provide 
any published studies or raw data supporting your position. As noted 
previously, CBI should not be submitted through www.regulations.gov. 
Please work with the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT section if submitting a comment containing CBI.

    Dated: April 30, 2018.
Sarah Dunham,
Director, Office of Atmospheric Programs.
[FR Doc. 2018-09557 Filed 5-3-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 87 / Friday, May 4, 2018 / Notices 19757

• Demonstrated experience with ACTION: Notice of data availability. 7716; fax number: (202) 343–2362;
environmental measurement programs email address: sleasman.katherine@
and environmental laboratory SUMMARY: Today’s notice announces the epa.gov.
accreditation; availability of The U.S. Phaseout of
• Demonstrated experience HCFCs: Projected Servicing Demand in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
developing organization level strategy the U.S. Air Conditioning, Refrigeration,
I. General Information
on methods development and validation and Fire Suppression Sectors (2020–
or quality systems approaches; 2030). The draft document is an update A. Does this action apply to me?
• Willingness to commit time to the to reports EPA has issued in the past,
such as The U.S. Phaseout of HCFCs: This notice announces the availability
committee, and demonstrated ability to
Projected Servicing Needs in the U.S. of data and analysis relevant to the
work constructively and effectively on
Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and Fire production, consumption, and use of
committees;
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and Suppression Sectors Updated for 2015 HCFC–123 and HCFC–124. This notice
written communication and consensus- to 2025, most recently issued in 2014. of data availability may be of interest to:
building skills; and This document contains information • Air-Conditioning and Warm Air
• Ability to serve a 2-year that revises estimates of potential future Heating Equipment and Commercial
appointment and volunteer market demand for HCFC–123 and and Industrial Refrigeration
approximately 5–7 hours per month to HCFC–124 based on current uses in air- Equipment Manufacturing entities
support the Board’s activities. conditioning, refrigeration, and fire (NAICS code 333415)
How to Submit Nominations: suppression equipment and considers • Air-Conditioning Equipment and
Nominations can be submitted in the availability of recovered HCFCs. Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
electronic format (preferred) to Dr. This information may be relevant to an (NAICS code 423620)
Thomas O’Farrell, Designated Federal upcoming rulemaking regarding
Officer, US EPA, MC 8105R, 1200 • Fire Extinguisher Chemical
allowances for consumption and
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington DC Preparations Manufacturing (NAICS
production of HCFC–123 and HCFC–
20460, or email to ofarrell.thomas@ code 325998)
124 for the 2020–2029 regulatory
epa.gov and should be received by June period. Comments submitted in • Industrial Gas Manufacturing (NAICS
1, 2018 for October 2018 appointment. response to today’s Notice of Data code 325120)
To be considered, all nomination Availability (NODA) may be used as the • Materials Recovery Facilities (NAICS
packages should include: Agency prepares for that rulemaking. code 562920)
• Current contact information for the DATES: Comments must be submitted on • Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary
nominee, including the nominee’s or before June 18, 2018. Equipment Manufacturing (NAICS
name, organization (and position within
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, code 336413)
that organization), current business
address, email address, and daytime identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– • Other Chemical and Allied
telephone number. OAR–2018–0003, at https:// Production Merchant Wholesalers
• Brief statement describing the www.regulations.gov. Follow the online (NAICS code 424690)
nominee’s interest in serving on the instructions for submitting comments. • Plumbing, Heating, and Air-
ELAB. Once submitted, comments cannot be Conditioning Contractors (NAICS
• Resume describing the professional edited or removed from Regulations.gov. code 238220)
and educational qualifications of the EPA may publish any comment received
to its public docket. Do not submit • Portable Fire Extinguishers
nominee, including a list of relevant Manufacturing (NAICS code 339999)
activities, and any current or previous electronically any information you
service on advisory committees. consider to be Confidential Business This list is not intended to be
• Letter(s) of recommendation from a Information (CBI) or other information exhaustive, but rather provides a guide
third party supporting the nomination. whose disclosure is restricted by statute. for readers regarding entities likely to be
For further questions regarding this Multimedia submissions (audio, video, interested in this notice.
notice, please contact Thomas O’Farrell etc.) must be accompanied by a written
II. What data are available?
at (202)-564–8451 or ofarrell.thomas@ comment. The written comment is
epa.gov. considered the official comment and EPA is announcing the availability of
Dated: April 24, 2018.
should include discussion of all points a draft report, The U.S. Phaseout of
you wish to make. EPA will generally HCFCs: Projected Servicing Demand in
Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta,
not consider comments or comment the U.S. Air Conditioning, Refrigeration
EPA Science Advisor.
contents located outside of the primary and Fire Suppression Sectors (2020–
[FR Doc. 2018–09321 Filed 5–3–18; 8:45 am] submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or 2030), in docket EPA–HQ–OAR–2018–
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P other file sharing system). For 0003. The information gathered and
additional submission methods, the full presented in the report concerns the
EPA public comment policy, end-uses in air conditioning and
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION information about CBI or multimedia
AGENCY refrigeration as well as fire suppression
submissions, and general guidance on sectors that currently use HCFC–123
[EPA–HQ–OAR–2018–0003; FRL–9977–41– making effective comments, please visit and HCFC–124. Readers should note
OAR] https://www.epa.gov/dockets/ that EPA will only consider comments
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES

commenting-epa-dockets. about the information presented in The
Protection of Stratospheric Ozone:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: U.S. Phaseout of HCFCs: Projected
Notice of Data Availability; Information
Katherine Sleasman, Stratospheric Servicing Demand in the U.S. Air
Concerning HCFC–123 and HCFC–124
Protection Division, (6205T), Conditioning, Refrigeration, and Fire
Production, Consumption, and Use
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Suppression Sectors (2020–2030) and is
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC not soliciting comments on any other
Agency (EPA). 20460; telephone number: (202) 564– topic.

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Document Created: 2018-11-02 09:51:36
Document Modified: 2018-11-02 09:51:36

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of data availability.
Dates		Comments must be submitted on or before June 18, 2018.
Contact		Katherine Sleasman, Stratospheric Protection Division, (6205T), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202)
FR Citation		83 FR 19757