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Section 608 Of The U.S. Clean Air Act Regulates With Refrigerant Gas Emissions
The U.S. Clean Air Act enforces air quality standards through the requirement of permits and certain monitoring and reporting methods. It also provides funding to U.S. states to implement clean air programs to monitor such things as air conditioning and systems containing refrigerant gases. Since implementation of the act requirements are conducted on the state level, the federal government supports each state with scientific research, studies and engineering design.
The Strategic Importance of Fugitive Emission Tracking
Organizations are required to track the refrigerant leak rates and report annul refrigerant usage it to the EPA. Fugitive emissions in particular are defined in carbon emissions reporting protocols as one of four emissions scopes that will be regulated. It is important that the severity of the leak and the repair process is documented. In addition, regulations require regular inspections of equipment or processes that involve volatile chemicals.
Greenhouse Gas Tracking (GHG) To Become Mandatory In The United States
The newly formed Obama administration has listed greenhouse gas (GHG) tracking and reporting as a major goal, with the objective of protecting the future of the environment by reducing today's carbon footprint. If no action were taken, the makeup of the earth would significantly altered. Future actions will establish a market drive carbon cap and trade program to drive GHG emissions reductions.
EPA Releases Mandatory Carbon (CO2) Emissions Reporting and Tracking Proposal
The EPA recently announced a plan which covers the need for mandatory carbon emissions reporting and thus is aimed at controlling the levels of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and carbon dioxide (CO2) and other chemicals, such as refrigerant gases, that directly lead to the problem of climate change. The EPA has further decided that carbon dioxide is so much of a problem to the public in general that it requires very strict regulation and market-based incentives to bring it under control.
Is Your Organization Filtering With EPA Compliance Risk?
The EPA enforcement penalties applies to facilities that improperly emit, vent, or dispose of refrigerant gas. The law requires proper servicing and safe removal of any equipment using restricted substances, such as ozone depleting substances (ODS). Noncompliance could result in fines of up to $25,000 a day, per violating HVAC-R system.
Understanding What Causes of Ozone Layer Destruction
Since the causes of ozone layer depletion were identified, solutions were put into place to reduce or eliminate their usage. The U.S. Clean Air Act and the Montreal Protocols address the problem internationally. The goal of these treaties is to stop the damage to the ozone layer by phasing out known contributors.
R22 Refrigerant Phase Out: The Dangers and The Damages
As a result of new environmental laws, managing the use of R22 refrigerant gas is more important than ever as government regulators can conduct unannounced spot checks to ensure tracking records comply with the reporting requirements. If there is a refrigerant leak, documentation must show how the gases were recovered. All of this is not to mention the supply of R22 will be 20 percent below market demand starting in 2010.
Explaining The U.S. Clean Air Act
Overseeing The U.S. Clean Air Act is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Among the issues the federal law addresses are air pollution prevention and control, ozone protection, air quality, carbon emission reporting (future additions), requirements to limit the deterioration of air quality, and to protect the ozone layer.
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