The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently issued its semi-annual regulatory agenda that outlined its rulemaking plans for the next several months. EPA said it plans to take action on several regulations pertaining to ozone-depleting substances (ODS).

The agency said it hopes to establish an allowance system for hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). In addition, it plans to create a system for allocation allowances in order to control HCFC consumption so that the cap will not be violated.

EPA said it has proposed another rule that would phase out the use of chlorobromomethane (CBM), also known as halon 1011. The rule is expected to have a minimal impact on small businesses because it will only affect production and not use. EPA said that CBM used as a feedstock will not be affected by this rule.

EPA will also expand the current class I base on the sale of ODSs for non-essential uses where sufficient substitutes are available. The ban currently prohibits the use of ODSs in aerosols, pressurized dispensers and foams when substitutes exist.

The agency said it will also create a process for exempting the production and consumption of methyl bromide (MB) intended for critical and emergency uses from the 2005 phaseout of MB. There will also be a process set into place that establishes a process for exempting quarantine and preshipment of MB from the production and import baseline.

EPA also said it would institute a recycling of substitute refrigerants. This regulation would facilitate fulfillment of the statutory mandate that the venting prohibition be applied to substitute refrigerants.