Protection of the Stratospheric Ozone: Alternatives for the Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning Sector Under the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program

The Clean Air Act provides for the review of alternatives to ozone-depleting substances and the approval of substitutes that do not present a risk more significant than other alternatives that are available. Under that authority, the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expanding the list of acceptable substitutes for ozone-depleting substances (ODS). The substitute addressed in this final rule (i.e., R- 152a) is for the motor vehicle air conditioning (MVAC) end-use within the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector. This substitute does not pose significantly more risk than other substitutes that are available in this end use. Additionally, this substitute is a non ozone-depleting gas and consequently does not contribute to stratospheric ozone depletion.