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Clean Air Act regulations phase out the production and import of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) consistent with the schedules developed under the Montreal Protocol.
In 1990, Title VI of the Clean Air Act authorized regulations regarding the use and production of chemicals that harm the Earth’s stratospheric ozone layer. This layer protects against ultraviolet B sunlight, which is linked to different medical conditions including cataracts and skin cancer. The ODS were classified into two groups, Class I and Class II. Class I consists of substances including chlorofluorocarbons. They have an ozone depletion potential (ODP) (HL) of 0.2 or higher. Class II consists of substances including hydro chlorofluorocarbons (HCFC). They have an ODP of less than 0.2.
CFCs were frequently used as refrigerants, solvents, and foam blowing agents. The most common CFCs were CFC-11, CFC-12, CFC-113, CFC-114, and CFC-115. They have been phased out in the United States, with a few exceptions.
The CFC phaseout affects anyone that has or works on equipment that uses ozone-depleting substances. This can include manufacturers, technicians, and operators, those who work in ice rinks, supermarkets, and food retail.
Both groups have a timeline for phaseout:
Title VI establishes methods for preventing harmful chemicals from entering the stratosphere in the first place, including recycling or proper disposal of chemicals, and finding substitutes that cause less or no damage. The Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program is EPA’s program to evaluate and regulate substitutes for the ozone-depleting chemicals that are being phased out under the stratospheric ozone protection provisions of the Clean Air Act.
The following are important regulated actions related to the CFC phaseout: