The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) published a November 28th Federal Register Notice that revises the regulatory definition of volatile organic compounds (“VOCs”) under the Clean Air Act. See 83 Fed. Reg. 61227.
The final rule exempts cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobut-2-ene.
HFO-1336mzz-Z is added to the list of compounds excluded from the regulatory definition of VOC. The rationale for this action is EPA’s contention that the compound makes a negligible contribution to tropospheric ozone formation.
EPA states that DuPont Chemicals & Fluoroproducts had submitted a petition to the agency on February 14, 2014, asking that cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobut-2-ene be exempted from the regulatory definition of VOC. The company argued that HFO-1336mzz-Z possesses low reactivity relative to ethane. The petitioner is also stated to have noted that:
. . . HFO-1336mzz-Z may be used in a variety of applications as a replacement for foam expansion or blowing agents with higher global warming potential (GWP) (≤700 GWP) for use in polyurethane rigid insulating foams, among others. It is also a new developmental refrigerant as a potential working fluid for Organic Rankine Cycles (ORC).
The preamble to the final rule addresses:
- EPA’s VOC Exemption Policy
- The Petition
- EPA’s Assessment of the Petition
- Contribution to Tropospheric Ozone Formation
- Potential Impacts on Other Environmental Endpoints
- Contribution to Tropospheric Ozone Depletion
- The Significant New Alternatives Policy Program Acceptability Findings
- Toxicity
- Contribution to Climate Change
- Response to Comments and Conclusion
A copy of the Federal Register Notice can be found here.
The Between the Lines blog is made available by Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C. and the law firm publisher. The blog site is for educational purposes only, as well as to give general information and a general understanding of the law. This blog is not intended to provide specific legal advice. Use of this blog site does not create an attorney client relationship between you and Mitchell Williams or the blog site publisher. The Between the Lines blog site should not be used as a substitute for legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state.