Opportunity to Comment
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is holding a public comment period on the application for a variance and invites all interested parties to comment:
Variance Applicant: SMC Corporation of America (SMC)
First Date of Public Comment: January 18, 2024
Last Date of Public Comment: February 17, 2024
CARB is holding a public comment period and is not currently proposing to approve or deny SMC’s application. SMC submitted an application, pursuant to section 95378 of the HFC Regulation, for a variance from the requirements of section 95374(c). Specifically, section 95374(c) prohibits the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) above certain global warming potential (GWP) values in new chillers used for industrial process refrigeration. SMC is requesting an impossibility variance to continue with the use of higher GWP refrigerants in these chillers until January 2025.
In accordance with section 95378(d)(2), CARB is publicly posting notice of SMC’s variance application, and a copy of the variance application (with confidential business information redacted) may be obtained. Please contact the HFC Reduction program at HFCReduction@arb.ca.gov if you need physical copies of the documents.
Interested members of the public may provide comments in writing through electronic submittal or by postal mail during the 30-day comment period. Submission details are listed below. To be considered by the Executive Officer, written comments must be received no later than February 17, 2024.
Electronic Submittal
Postal Mail: California Air Resources Board
HFC Reduction Program
1001 I Street,
Sacramento, CA 95814
Please note that under the California Public Records Act (Gov. Code §§ 6250 et seq.), your written 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.
Further inquiries or questions regarding this matter should be directed to the HFC program email address: HFCReduction@arb.ca.gov.
Background
CARB’s Prohibitions on Use of Certain Hydrofluorocarbons in Stationary Refrigeration, Stationary Air-Conditioning, and Other End-Uses (i.e., HFC Regulation) establishes global warming potential (GWP) prohibitions and requirements for HFCs in different end-uses such as refrigeration, air conditioning, foam products, and aerosols. Section 95378 of the HFC Regulation establishes a process for entities that cannot meet the regulatory requirements due to situations of impossibility and force majeure to receive a variance from certain regulatory requirements.
Section 95378(d)(2) requires CARB to post a variance application and accept public comment for 30 calendar days before approving or denying the variance request. CARB will consider all comments received during the 30-day comment period in deciding whether to approve or deny the variance request. CARB will issue a decision within 60 days after the comment period closes, and the regulated entity may submit additional information during this period.
Under section 95378(c)(5), a regulated entity may request confidential treatment of information in its variance application that is protected from disclosure under the California Public Records Act (Gov. Code §§ 6250 et seq.), such as trade secrets. The same section requires CARB to follow the process identified in California Code of Regulations (CCR), title 17, sections 91000 to 91022, to consider requests to withhold information claimed as confidential.
Special Accommodation Request
Consistent with California Government Code section 7290 et seq., special accommodation or language needs may be provided for any of the following:
- Documents made available in an alternate format or another language; and
- A disability-related reasonable accommodation.
To request these special accommodations or language needs, please contact the HFC Reduction Program at HFCReduction@arb.ca.gov or (916) 282-6241 as soon as possible, but no later than ten business days before the conclusion of the public comment period. TTY/TDD/Speech to Speech users may dial 711 for the California Relay Service.
Consecuente con la sección 7290 et seq. del Código de Gobierno de California, una acomodación especial o necesidades lingüísticas pueden ser suministradas para cualquiera de los siguientes:
- Documentos disponibles en un formato alterno u otro idioma; y
- Una acomodación razonable relacionados con una incapacidad.
Para solicitar estas comodidades especiales o necesidades de otro idioma, por favor llame a la oficina del Consejo al HFCReduction@arb.ca.gov o (916) 282-6241 lo más pronto posible, pero no menos de 10 días de trabajo antes de que se termine el periodo de commentarios. TTY/TDD/Personas que necesiten este servicio pueden marcar el 711 para el Servicio de Retransmisión de Mensajes de California.
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