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The California Air Resources Board (CARB or Board) will conduct a public hearing at the time noted below to consider approving for adoption the Proposed Amendments to the Prohibitions on Use of Certain Hydrofluorocarbons in Stationary Refrigeration, Chillers, Aerosols-Propellants and Foam End-Uses (Title 17, California Code of Regulations, section 95371 et seq.) (HFC Regulation). The Proposed Amendments are part of the effort by CARB to reduce emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), a class of highly potent greenhouse gases, as required by Senate Bill (SB) 1383.
DATE: December 10, 2020
TIME: 9:00 a.m.
Please see the Public Agenda which will be posted ten days before the December 10, 2020, Board Meeting for any appropriate direction regarding a possible remote-only Board Meeting. If the meeting is to be held in person, it will be held at the California Air Resources Board, Byron Sher Auditorium, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, California 95814.
This item may be considered at a two-day meeting of the Board, which will commence at 9:00 a.m., December 10, 2020, and may continue at 8:30 a.m., December 11, 2020. Please consult the agenda for the meeting, which will be available at least ten days before December 10, 2020, to determine the day on which this item will be considered.
Background
HFCs are potent short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP) that have an outsized impact on climate change in the near-term. While they remain in the atmosphere for a much shorter time than carbon dioxide, their global warming potentials (GWP) can be hundreds to thousands of times greater. Recognizing the importance of reducing HFCs, the Legislature enacted SB 1383 in 2016, which requires a 40 percent reduction in HFC emissions below 2013 levels by 2030.
The majority of HFC emissions in the State come from their use as refrigerants in stationary refrigeration and air conditioning (AC) equipment. In October 2018, CARB staff announced their intent to address these emission sources by amending the existing HFC Regulation. Since then, CARB staff have worked closely with stakeholders to refine the regulatory proposal. Currently, the proposed rules are as follows: a GWP limit of 150 on new stationary refrigeration systems containing more than 50 pounds of refrigerant in new facilities starting January 1, 2022, company-wide emissions reduction targets for retail food companies by 2030, and a GWP limit of 750 for new stationary air conditioning systems starting January 1, 2023, and inclusion of a variance process. Additionally, some administrative changes are proposed for the purpose of enhancing clarity of the existing regulation. If adopted, these rules will be incorporated via amendments to the existing CARB HFC regulation.
Stakeholders have requested CARB delay the effective date for the 750 GWP limit for new stationary air conditioning equipment from January 1, 2023, to January 1, 2025, and have submitted alternative proposals for achieving emissions reductions. More information about the alternative proposals and request for delay can be found in the Initial Statement of Reasons. Any revisions to the proposed regulation may be incorporated through a 15-Day Notice.
Inquiries concerning the substance of the proposed regulatory action may be directed to the agency representative Pamela Gupta, Manager, at pamela.gupta@arb.ca.gov, or (designated back-up contact) Kathryn Kynett, Air Pollution Specialist, at kathryn.kynett@arb.ca.gov, both in the F-gas Reduction Strategy Section.
The Notice, Initial Statement of Reasons, and all subsequent regulatory documents are available on CARB's Rulemaking webpage.
Written Comment Period & Comment Submittal
In accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, interested members of the public may present comments orally or in writing at the hearing and may provide comments by postal mail or by electronic submittal before the hearing. The public comment period for this regulatory action will begin on October 23, 2020. Written comments not submitted during the hearing must be submitted on or after October 23, 2020, and received no later than December 7, 2020. Comments submitted outside that comment period are considered untimely. CARB may, but is not required to, respond to untimely comments, including those raising significant environmental issues. CARB requests that when possible, written and email statements be filed at least ten days before the hearing to give CARB staff and Board members additional time to consider each comment. The Board also encourages members of the public to bring to the attention of CARB staff in advance of the hearing any suggestions for modification of the proposed regulatory action. Comments submitted in advance of the hearing must be addressed to one of the following:
Clerks' Office, California Air Resources Board
1001 I Street, Sacramento, California 95814
Please note that under the California Public Records Act (Government Code section 6250 et seq.), your written and oral comments, attachments, and associated contact information (e.g., your address, phone, email, etc.) become part of the public record and can be released to the public upon request.
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