Chapters 173-443 and Chapter 173-455 WAC

Ecology proposes to update two rules:

This rulemaking may:

Establish maximum global warming potential (GWP) thresholds for hydrofluorocarbons used in new stationary refrigeration and air conditioning equipment.
Establish a refrigerant management program with registration, leak detection, and reporting requirements for certain stationary refrigeration and air conditioning systems.
Amend product labeling and disclosure requirements.
Establish fees to support the refrigerant management program.
Update Chapter 173-443 WAC to reflect other changes in the law.

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See where we are in the process
Stay informed about this rulemaking
Read more languages: Español | 中文 | Tiếng Việt | 한국어

Rulemaking timeline

Timeline

Date	Activity
August 16, 2021	Announced rulemaking (filed CR-101 form)
December 2021	Proposed recommendations to the legislature about how to manage end-of-life of HFCs/refrigerants
Winter 2022 – Spring 2023	Hold stakeholder meetings Develop and prepare rule language
Early Summer 2023	Propose rule (file CR-102 form) Start public comment period
Summer 2023	Hold public hearing(s)
Summer 2023	End public comment period
Summer 2023 – Fall 2023	Review public comments Prepare adoption package
November 2023	Adopt rule (file CR-103 form)
December 2023	Rule effective 31 days after filing

Announcement phase (CR-101)

Filing date:
Aug. 16, 2021

Announcement documents

Announcement Notice – CR-101 form

Rule development phase

August 16, 2021 – Summer 2023

Public input & involvement

Public comment period (informal) – EXTENDED
February 3, 2022 – February 15, 2023 (originally January 31, 2023)

Read comments.

Ecology's meetings with stakeholders

Date (PDT)	Documents	Location
Thursday Feb. 3, 2022 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.	Agenda Presentation Draft rule language Meeting summary	webinar ¹
Thursday March 31, 2022 1 p.m – 3:30 p.m.	Agenda Presentation Draft rule language Meeting summary	webinar ¹ recording
Tuesday May 10, 2022 9:30 a.m. – noon	Agenda Presentation Draft rule language Meeting summary Grocery retailers Q&A	webinar ¹ recording
Wednesday July 6, 2022 9:30 a.m. – noon	Agenda Presentation Draft rule language Meeting summary	webinar ¹ recording
Wednesday Sept. 14, 2022 9:30 a.m. – noon	Agenda Presentation Draft rule language Meeting summary Draft requirements for refrigerant management	webinar ¹ recording
Thursday Nov. 17, 2022 9:30 a.m. – noon PST	Agenda Presentation Draft rule language Meeting summary Draft requirements for refrigerant management	webinar ¹ recording
Wednesday Jan. 25, 2023 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PST	Agenda Presentation Draft rule language Draft rule language (Jan. 27, 2023 version)	webinar ¹ recording

¹ Webinar information:
Register for each webinar to get your meeting ID and passcode.
To hear the webinar better or to call in only, use your phone (instead of the computer) to call 253-215-8782.

Additional languages

Español (Spanish)

El Departamento de Ecología está comenzando el proceso de reglamentación para enmendar el Capítulo 173-443 WAC sobre Hidrofluorocarbonos (HFCs por sus siglas en inglés) (Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)) y el Capitulo 173-455 del WAC Regla de la Cuota de la Calidad de Aire (Air Quality Fee Rule). Este proceso de reglamentación se dirigirá a los HFCs usados en equipos de refrigeración estacionaria y aire acondicionado y crea un programa de manejo de refrigerantes para sistemas de refrigeración y aire acondicionado comerciales ya existentes.

Para obtener más información, llame a Linda Kildahl al 360-706-3038 y solicite un intérprete.

中文 (Chinese)

華盛頓生態管理署開始法規制定程序來修改WAC第173-443章氫氟碳化合物 (Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)) 和WAC第173-455章空氣質量收費法規（Air Quality Fee Rule）。該法規制定將觸及固定式製冷設備和空調設備中使用的HFCs，並為現存的商業製冷和空調系統制定製冷劑管理項目。

如果需要更多信息，請致電 Linda Kildahl 360-706-3038 並提出需要翻譯員服務。

Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)

Bộ Môi Sinh đang bắt đầu quy trình soạn luật để sửa đổi Chương 173-443 WAC Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) và Chương 173-455 WAC Đạo Luật Phí Chất Lượng Không Khí (Air Quality Fee Rule). Quy trình soạn luật này sẽ giải quyết các chất HFC được sử dụng trong thiết bị mới làm lạnh và điều hòa không khí tại chỗ và tạo ra một chương trình quản lý chất làm lạnh cho các hệ thống làm lạnh và điều hòa không khí thương mại hiện có.

Để biết thêm thông tin, xin vui lòng gọi Linda Kildahl theo số 360-706-3038 và yêu cầu thông dịch viên.

한국어 (Korean)

주 환경부는 수소불화탄소(HFCs)에 관한 주법 Chapter 173-443 WAC (Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)) 및 대기질 수수료 규정에 관한 주법 Chapter 173-455 WAC (Air Quality Fee Rule) 개정을 위한 규칙제정 절차를 시작합니다. 이 규칙제정으로 새로운 고정식 냉난방 장비에 사용되는 수소불화탄소를 관리하고, 기존의 상업용 냉난방 시스템을 위한 냉매관리 프로그램을 만들게 됩니다.

더 많은 정보는 담당자 (Linda Kildahl, 360-706-3038) 에게 전화하셔서 통역을 요청하세요.

Contact information

Linda Kildahl
Rulemaking Lead
linda.kildahl@ecy.wa.gov
360-706-3038

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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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Chapters 173-443 and Chapter 173-455 WAC

I want to...

Rulemaking timeline

Announcement phase (CR-101)

Rule development phase

Public input & involvement

Rule proposal phase (CR-102)

Comment period

Rule adoption phase (CR-103)

Additional languages

Related links

Contact information

Accessibility