Chapter 173-443 WAC

On Dec. 10, 2020, Ecology adopted a new rule, Chapter 173-443 WAC, Hydrofluorocarbons. The purpose of this rule is to establish requirements to move away from hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). HFCs are powerful greenhouse gases that are made up of hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon. This rule is similar to rules that EPA and other states have adopted or are adopting.

The permanent rule requires manufacturers, importers, and distributors to:

Notify Ecology about their products and equipment that contain hydrofluorocarbons — due when new restrictions apply (2021-2024).
Label the product or equipment that contains hydrofluorocarbons.

Ecology adopted five consecutive emergency rules while we were working on the permanent rule.

The emergency rule required manufacturers, importers, and distributors to notify Ecology about their products and equipment that contain hydrofluorocarbons:

Initial reporting — due by Dec. 31, 2019

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Read more languages: Español | 中文 | Tiếng Việt | 한국어

Rulemaking timeline

Timeline

Timeline for emergency rulemaking

Date	Activity
July 30, 2019	Adopted first emergency rule (filed CR-103E form)
Nov. 21, 2019	Adopted second emergency rule (filed CR-103E form) First emergency rule expired
March 16, 2020	Adopted third emergency rule (filed CR-103E form) Second emergency rule expired
June 25, 2020	Adopted fourth emergency rule (filed CR-103E form) Third emergency rule expired
Oct. 20, 2020	Adopted fifth emergency rule (filed CR-103E form) Fourth emergency rule expired
Dec. 10, 2020	Adopted permanent rule (filed CR-103P form) Fifth emergency rule expired

Timeline for permanent rulemaking

Date	Activity
July 30, 2019	Announced rulemaking (filed CR-101 form)
Summer 2019 – Spring 2020	Developed and prepared rule language
Sept. 2019 – Jan. 2020	Held stakeholder meetings
June 16, 2020	Proposed rule (filed CR-102 form) Started public comment period
July 21, 2020	Held public hearing
July 28, 2020	Ended public comment period
Summer – Fall 2020	Reviewed public comments Prepared adoption package
Dec. 10, 2020	Adopted rule (filed CR-103P form)
Jan. 10, 2021	Rule effective 31 days after filing

Announcement phase (CR-101)

Filing date:
July 30, 2019

Announcement documents

Announcement notice – CR-101 form

Rule development phase

July 30, 2019 – June 15, 2020

Public input & involvement

Public comment period (informal)
Jan. 23, 2020 – March 25, 2020

Read comments.

EPA's SNAP list of HFC substitutes

Ecology's meetings with stakeholders

Date	Agenda	Location
Wednesday Sept. 11, 2019 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.	Information about how to: • Fill out the notification form. ¹ • Get a SAW account. • Submit your notification form. ¹ ¹ Reporting HFCs - instructions	webinar *
Wednesday Nov. 13, 2019 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (+30 min. if needed)	Propellants Agenda Handout Presentation Meeting summary	Marriott Residence Inn SeaTac (map to location) webinar *
Wednesday Nov. 13, 2019 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. (+30 min. if needed)	Foams Agenda Handout Presentation Meeting summary	Marriott Residence Inn SeaTac (map to location) webinar *
Thursday Nov. 14, 2019 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (+30 min. if needed)	Refrigerants Agenda Handout Presentation Meeting summary	Marriott Residence Inn SeaTac (map to location) webinar *
Tuesday Dec. 17, 2019 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.	Agenda 2019 draft labeling options Presentation Meeting summary	Ecology, Lacey (map to location) webinar *
Tuesday Jan. 28, 2020 9:30 a.m. – noon	Agenda Draft rule language Presentation Meeting summary	Ecology, Lacey (map to location) webinar *

* Webinar information:
Register for the webinar to get your access code and password.
To hear the webinar better, use your phone (instead of the computer) to call 1-855-929-3239.

Rule proposal phase (CR-102)

Filing date:
June 16, 2020

Rule proposal documents:

Comment period

Comments were due by July 28, 2020. We accepted comments in the following ways:

Comment online. Read comments.
Attend a public hearing online (webinar):
July 21, 2020 at 9:30 a.m.
Mail to: Linda Kildahl
Department of Ecology
Air Quality Program
P.O. Box 47600
Olympia, WA 98504-7600

Public hearing location

Date/Time: July 21, 2020 at 9:30 a.m.

Location: online (webinar)
Register for the webinar to get your access code and password.
To hear the webinar better, use your phone (instead of the computer) to call 1-855-929-3239.

Agenda: Presentation, question-and-answer session, followed by public hearing

Accessibility: To request ADA accommodation for the public hearing, email Ecology’s ADA coordinator by July 7, 2020. Or call (360) 407-6831, 711 (relay service), or 877-833-6341 (TTY).

Rule adoption phase (CR-103)

Adoption date:
Dec. 10, 2020

Rule effective date:
Jan. 10, 2021

Rule adoption documents:

Emergency rule adoption (CR-103E)

Fifth emergency rule

Adoption and effective date:
Oct. 20, 2020

Rule expiration date:
Dec. 10, 2020

Rule adoption documents:

Fourth emergency rule

Adoption and effective date:
June 25, 2020

Rule expiration date:
Oct. 20, 2020

Rule adoption documents:

Third emergency rule

Adoption and effective date:
March 16, 2020

Rule expiration date:
June 25, 2020

Rule adoption documents:

Second emergency rule

Adoption and effective date:
Nov. 21, 2019

Rule expiration date:
March 16, 2020

Rule adoption documents:

First emergency rule

Adoption and effective date:
July 30, 2019

Rule expiration date:
Nov. 21, 2019

Rule adoption documents:

Additional languages

Español (Spanish)

El Departamento de Ecología adoptó una nueva regla para el Capítulo 173-443 WAC Hidrofluorocarbonos (HFC) para reducir los gases de efecto invernadero en Washington.

La regla prohíbe el uso de HFC y otros substitutos en productos y equipo para el aire acondicionado y refrigeración, propelentes para aerosol, y tipos de espumas para uso final.

La regla también define requisitos de reporte y etiquetado para fabricantes, importadores, y distribuidores de los productos cubiertos.

Para más información, favor de llamar a Linda Kildahl a 360-407-7655 y pedir una interpretación.

中文 (Chinese)

生態管理署通過了WAC第173-443章氫氟碳化合物的新規定以減少華盛頓州溫室氣體。

該規定禁止在產品和空調及冰箱設備、噴霧劑和泡沫最終用途類別中使用氫氟碳化合物及其替代品。

該規定還明確要求生產商、進口商和產品分銷商提供報告和標識。

更多詳情，請撥打360-407-7655聯繫Linda Kildahl及要求翻譯服務。

Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)

Bộ Môi Sinh đã phê chuẩn một đạo luật cho Chương 173-443 WAC Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) để giảm khí nhà kính tại bang Washington.

Luật này cấm sử dụng HFC và các chất thay thế khác trong các sản phẩm và thiết bị cho điều hòa không khí và làm lạnh, nhiên liệu khí dung, và các loại sử dụng bọt.

Luật này cũng xác định các quy định về báo cáo và ghi nhãn đối với các nhà sản xuất, nhà nhập khẩu, và nhà phân phối các sản phẩm có chứa các chất trên.

Để biết thêm thông tin hoặc cần thông dịch viên, xin liên hệ Linda Kildahl tại số 360-407-7655.

한국어 (Korean)

주 환경부는 워싱턴주 온실가스를 줄이기 위한 수소화불화탄소(HFCs) 관련 새로운 법률 Chapter 173-443 WAC을 채택하였습니다.

이 규칙은 HFCs의 사용 및 에어컨, 냉장고, 스프레이 압축가스, 발포고무 등 다른 제품으로의 대체사용을 금지합니다.

또한 이 규칙은 관련제품 생산자와 수입업자, 유통업자들을 위한 표시방법과 보고방법을 규정합니다.

보다 자세한 정보를 원하시면 Linda Kildahl (360-407-7655) 에게 전화해서 통역을 요청하십시오.

Contact information

Linda Kildahl
Rulemaking Lead
linda.kildahl@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-7655

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Accessibility

To request ADA accommodation for disabilities, or printed materials in a format for the visually impaired, contact Ecology's ADA Coordinator by email at ecyadacoordinator@ecy.wa.gov, or call 360-407-6831. People with impaired hearing may call Washington Relay Service at 711. People with speech disability may call TTY at 877-833-6341.

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Chapter 173-443 WAC

I want to...

Rulemaking timeline

Announcement phase (CR-101)

Rule development phase

Public input & involvement

Rule proposal phase (CR-102)

Comment period

Public hearing location

Rule adoption phase (CR-103)

Emergency rule adoption (CR-103E)

Fifth emergency rule

Fourth emergency rule

Third emergency rule

Second emergency rule

First emergency rule

Additional languages

Related links

Contact information

Accessibility