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First version of Clean Air Act Established
Under the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to regulate emission of pollutants that "endanger public health and welfare." The act has been amended twice: 1977 and 1990. Learn more at https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/clean-air-act -
Signing of Montreal Protocol
This international treaty outlined steps to reduce and eventually eliminate the use of a variety of ozone-depleting substances (ODS). (Pg. 12: "The Montreal Protocol was the first international treaty calling for the reduction of the available production of CFCs." --HCFCs added later in 1990.) -
Montreal Protocol Enforced Starting 1989
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US Begins Phase Out of CFC
US ordered the stoppage of all CFC production and importation after December 31, 1995. Any CFCs used will come from recovery and recycling. (pg 12) -
Prohibition Against Venting
Clean Air Act of 1992: "No person installing, maintaining, repairing, or disposing of any appliance may knowingly vent or otherwise release into the environment any class I ozone depleting substance or class II ozone depleting substance or substitute used as a refrigerant. In 2016 HFCs were added to the list. " -
Technicians Must Certify
Section 608 of the Federal Clean Air Act requires that all persons who maintain, service, repair, or dispose of appliances that contain regulated refrigerants, be certified in proper refrigerant handling techniques as of November 14, 1994. -
Illegal to Vent CFC and HCFC refrigerants
HCFs were added to the list in 2016. Read about common violations of Clean Air Act: https://www.triumvirate.com/blog/10-most-common-clean-air-act-violations
