EPA Publishes SNAP Rule 26

On June 13, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a final rule entitled "Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Listing of Substitutes Under the Significant New Alternatives Policy Program in Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration”, also known as Significant New Alternatives Policy Program (SNAP) Rule 26. 

The SNAP program implements Section 612 of the amended  Clean Air Act of 1990. This section mandates EPA to assess alternatives to substances that deplete the ozone layer in order to minimize risks to human health and the environment. As a result of these assessments, SNAP creates lists of acceptable and unacceptable substitutes for several major industrial sectors. The goal of the SNAP program is to facilitate a seamless transition to safer alternatives. 

Proposed Rule and Final Rule 

Substitutes that are deemed either unacceptable or acceptable with use restrictions will be subject to a comment period before being formally published as a rule. A 'Proposed Rule' includes proposed lists of substances that are considered either acceptable with restricted conditions or completely unacceptable. Typically, there is a 60-day period for public comments starting from the date of publication in the Federal Register. 

After receiving public feedback on its proposed rules, EPA reviews the comments and finalizes a 'Final Rule' that formalizes the provisions as law. The SNAP rules and notices can be accessed online here. 

List of Substances under SNAP Rule 26: 

 
This action outlines new substitution guidelines for the refrigeration and air conditioning sector. The details are: 

• List nine refrigerants as acceptable, subject to use conditions, for use in commercial ice machines. 

• List nine refrigerants as acceptable, subject to use conditions, for use in industrial process refrigeration. 

• List seven refrigerants as acceptable, subject to use conditions, for use in cold storage warehouses. 

• List six refrigerants as acceptable, subject to use conditions, for use in ice skating rinks. 

• List eight refrigerants as acceptable, subject to use conditions, for use in retail food refrigeration systems. 

• Revise use conditions for one refrigerant, for use in self-contained commercial ice machines and stand-alone retail refrigeration equipment. 

• Adopt the current versions of three industry standards by incorporating them by reference into the relevant use conditions; and 

• Exempt R-290 from the Clean Air Act section 608 prohibition on releases of refrigerant during installing, maintaining, repairing, or disposing of refrigerated food processing and dispensing equipment on the basis of information that such releases are not expected to pose a threat to the environment.