Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Notice 14 for Significant New Alternatives Policy Program

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expanding the list of acceptable substitutes for ozone-depleting substances (ODS) under our Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. Substitutes are for the refrigeration and air conditioning, foams, non- aerosol solvent cleaning, and aerosol solvents and propellants sectors. Today's action also requests information from readers on the composition and safety of certain refrigerants for motor vehicle air conditioners; the possible expansion of the SNAP program to include review of, and potentially to establish use conditions for, operations that involve manual (hand) cleaning with solvents for precision, electronics, and metals cleaning; and the possible restriction of non- aerosol solvent substitutes to equipment that meets the cleaning equipment standards in the National Emission Standards for Halogenated Solvent Cleaning. Finally, this action updates readers on the SNAP program's review of n-propyl bromide for use as a substitute for ozone- depleting solvents used in the non-aerosol solvents cleaning, aerosol solvents and propellants, and adhesives, coatings and inks sectors.