Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Updates Related to the Use of Ozone-Depleting Substances as Process Agents

<RULE> ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY <CFR>40 CFR Part 82</CFR> <DEPDOC>[EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0707; FRL-9603-02-OAR]</DEPDOC> <RIN>RIN 2060-AV65</RIN> <SUBJECT>Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Updates Related to the Use of Ozone-Depleting Substances as Process Agents</SUBJECT> <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD> Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD> Final rule. <SUM> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD> This action establishes recordkeeping and reporting requirements for uses of ozone-depleting substances as process agents and updates related definitions. Codified recordkeeping and reporting requirements will provide clear notice of information the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency collects, aggregates, and reports each year on behalf of the United States as a party to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer; effectively monitor these narrow uses in a more routine and consistent manner under the Clean Air Act; and enhance understanding of emissions of substances harmful to the stratospheric ozone layer. </SUM> <EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD> This final rule is effective on November 12, 2024. The incorporation by reference (IBR) of certain publications listed in the rule is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of November 12, 2024. </EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD> The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established a docket for this action under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0707. All documents in the docket are listed on the <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov</E> website. Although listed in the index, some information may not be publicly available, <E T="03">e.g.,</E> confidential information or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, is not placed on the internet and will be publicly available only in hard-copy form. Publicly available docket materials are available electronically through <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov.</E> <FURINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD> John Feather, Stratospheric Protection Division, Office of Atmospheric Protection (Mail Code 6205A), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-564-1230; or email address: <E T="03">feather.john@epa.gov.</E> You may also visit EPA's website at <E T="03">https://www.epa.gov/ozone-layer-protection</E> for further information. </FURINF> <SUPLINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD> Throughout this document, whenever “we,” “us,” “the Agency,” or “our” is used, we mean the EPA. Acronyms that are used in this rulemaking that may be helpful include: <EXTRACT> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">ASME—American Society of Mechanical Engineers</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CAA—Clean Air Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CEMS—continuous emissions monitoring system</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CFC—chlorofluorocarbon</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CFR—Code of Federal Regulations</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CRA—Congressional Review Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">EPA—U.S. Environmental Protection Agency</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">FOIA—Freedom of Information Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">FTIR—Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">GHGRP—Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">HCFC—hydrochlorofluorocarbon</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">HFC—hydrofluorocarbon</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">IBR—incorporation by reference</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">ICR—Information Collection Request</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NAICS—North American Industry Classification System</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NARA—National Archives and Records Administration</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">ODP—ozone depletion potential</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">ODS—ozone-depleting substances</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">PRA—Paperwork Reduction Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">RFA—Regulatory Flexibility Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">SISNOSE—Significant Economic Impact on a Substantial Number of Small Entities</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">TEAP—Technology and Economic Assessment Panel</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">TRI—Toxics Release Inventory</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">UMRA—Unfunded Mandates Reform Act</FP> </EXTRACT> <HD SOURCE="HD1">Table of Contents</HD> <EXTRACT> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">I. General Information</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Does this action apply to me?</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. What action is the Agency taking?</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. What is EPA's authority for this action?</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">II. Background</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. EPA's Phaseout of ODS</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. ODS Used as Process Agents</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. EPA's Treatment of ODS Process Agents</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">III. Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. One-Time Report</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Annual Report</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Advance Notice of Changes Report</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. Emissions Reporting Methodology</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. Recordkeeping</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">IV. How will EPA treat ODS process agent data collected under this action?</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Background on Determinations of Whether Information Is Entitled to Treatment as Confidential Information</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Data Elements To Be Reported to EPA Under This Action</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">V. Definitions</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">VI. Costs and Benefits</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">VII. Statutory and Executive Order Review</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and Executive Order 14094: Modernizing Regulatory Review</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">H. Executive Order 13211: Actions That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) and Incorporation by Reference</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations and Executive Order 14096: Revitalizing Our Nation's Commitment to Environmental Justice for All</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">K. Congressional Review Act (CRA)</FP> </EXTRACT> <HD SOURCE="HD1">I. General Information</HD> <HD SOURCE="HD2">A. Does this action apply to me?</HD> You may be potentially affected by this action if you use ozone-depleting substances  <SU>1</SU> <FTREF/> (ODS) as process agents. Potentially affected categories, North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes, and examples of potentially affected entities include Industrial Gas Manufacturing (NAICS code 325120), Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing (NAICS code 325180), and All Other Basic Organic Chemical Manufacturing (NAICS code 325199). <FTNT> <SU>1</SU>  For the purposes of this preamble, EPA uses “ozone-depleting substance” and “controlled substance” interchangeably. Both terms are intended to have the same meaning as “controlled substance” as defined in 40 CFR 82.3. </FTNT> This list is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a guide for readers regarding entities likely to be affected by this action. Other types of entities not listed in this section could also be affected. If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity, <SU>2</SU> <FTREF/> consult the person listed under <E T="02">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT</E> . <FTNT> <SU>2</SU>  In certain instances EPA may use the terms “entity,” “person,” and “company” interchangeably. Because EPA anticipates that the parties that use process agents are companies or other entities, the Agency uses these terms to refer to regulated parties in the rule. Using this shorthand, however, does not alter the applicability of the Clean Air Act (CAA)'s or regulation's requirements and prohibitions. Similarly, in certain instances EPA may use these terms interchangeably in this rule preamble, but such differences in terminology should not be viewed to carry a material distinction in how EPA interprets or is planning to apply the requirements discussed herein. </FTNT> <HD SOURCE="HD2">B. What action is the Agency taking?</HD> This action is narrow in scope and primarily codifies reporting and recordkeeping requirements for a limited number of chemical manufacturing facilities. EPA annually collects process agent consumption and emissions information. In this action, the Agency is codifying reporting requirements to collect this information, including a methodology to calculate emissions. EPA is also defining the term “process agent,” revising definitions of “plant” and “facility” to better reflect current practice, and establishing definitions associated with the emission reporting requirements. <HD SOURCE="HD2">C. What is EPA's authority for this action?</HD> Several sections of the CAA provide authority for this action. In particular, section 603 provides authority to establish monitoring and reporting requirements for controlled substances. EPA also relies on its authority under section 114 of the CAA, which authorizes the EPA Administrator to establish recordkeeping and reporting requirements in carrying out any provision of the CAA (with certain exceptions that do not apply here). Sections 604 and 605 of the CAA provide the authority to phase out the production and consumption of class I and class II controlled substances, to restrict the use of class ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Preview showing 10k of 288k characters. Full document text is stored and available for version comparison. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━