Chapters 173-443 and 173-455 WAC – Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)

On November 30, 2023, Ecology adopted two rules:

Chapter 173-443 WAC, Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) (updated title to Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and Other Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases)
Chapter 173-455 WAC, Air Quality Fee Rule

The adopted rule:

Establishes maximum global warming potential (GWP) thresholds for hydrofluorocarbons used in new stationary refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, small cans of refrigerant, and certain nonessential consumer aerosol products.
Establishes a refrigerant management program with registration, leak inspection, leak repair, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements for owners or operators of large stationary refrigeration and air conditioning systems.
Establishes required service practices for technicians who service stationary refrigeration and air conditioning systems.
Amend sproduct labeling and disclosure requirements.
Establishes new labeling and recordkeeping requirements.
Updates Chapter 173-443 WAC to reflect other changes in the law.
Revises the title of the chapter.

A new section in Chapter 173-455 WAC establishes fees and a process for fee updates to cover the costs of implementing and enforcing the refrigerant management program.

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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	Held stakeholder meetings Developed and prepared rule language
July 13, 2023	Proposed rule (filed CR-102 form) Started public comment period
August 24, 2023	Held public hearing
August 31, 2023	Extended public comment period (filed CR-102 continuance form)
September 10, 2023 (originally August 31, 2023)	Ended public comment period
Fall 2023	Reviewed public comments Prepared adoption package
November 30, 2023	Adopted rule (filed CR-103 form)
December 31, 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 – July 12, 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 recording ¹
Tuesday May 10, 2022 9:30 a.m. – noon	Agenda Presentation Draft rule language Meeting summary Grocery retailers Q&A	webinar recording ¹
Wednesday July 6, 2022 9:30 a.m. – noon	Agenda Presentation Draft rule language Meeting summary	webinar recording ¹
Wednesday Sept. 14, 2022 9:30 a.m. – noon	Agenda Presentation Draft rule language Meeting summary Draft requirements for refrigerant management	webinar recording ¹
Thursday Nov. 17, 2022 9:30 a.m. – noon PST	Agenda Presentation Draft rule language Meeting summary Draft requirements for refrigerant management	webinar recording ¹
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 recording ¹

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.

Rule proposal phase (CR-102)

Filing date:
July 13, 2023

Rule proposal documents:

Proposal notice – CR-102 form
Proposed rule language
- Chapter 173-443 WAC – Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) (proposed title change: Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and Other Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases)
- WAC 173-455-160 – Refrigerant management program fees
Preliminary Regulatory Analyses
SEPA Determination of Nonsignificance and Environmental Checklist

Related documents:

Hydrofluorocarbons Proposed Rule Language: Informational Guidebook

Continuance filing (CR-102)

Filing date:
August 31, 2023

Continuance documents:

Continuance of proposal notice – CR-102 form (extended public comment period)
SEPA Determination of Nonsignificance (DNS) and Environmental Checklist (extended public comment period)

Comment period

Comments were due by September 10, 2023 (originally August 31, 2023). We accepted comments in the following ways:

Read comments.
Attend a public hearing online (webinar): August 24, 2023, 10 a.m.
Mail to: Linda Kildahl
Department of Ecology
Air Quality Program
P.O. Box 47600
Olympia, WA 98504-7600

Public hearing

Date/Time: August 24, 2023, 10 a.m. online (webinar)

Location: online (webinar) – recording
Register for the 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.

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 August 17, 2023. Or call 360-407-6831, 711 (relay service), or 877-833-6341 (TTY).

Rule adoption phase (CR-103)

Adoption date:
Nov. 30, 2023

Rule effective date:
Dec. 31, 2023

Rule adoption documents:

Additional languages

Español (Spanish)

El 30 de noviembre de 2023, Ecología adoptó modificaciones para el Capítulo 173-443 WAC Hidrofluorocarbonos (HFCs) y el Capítulo 173-455 WAC Norma de Tarifas de Calidad del Aire.

La norma establece umbrales para el máximo potencial de calentamiento global (GWP, por sus siglas en inglés) para nuevos equipos estacionarios de refrigeración y aire acondicionado vendidos en Washington. La norma también crea un programa de gestión de refrigerantes para reducir las emisiones por fugas en sistemas comerciales de refrigeración y aire acondicionado en uso en todo Washington.

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

中文 (Chinese)

2023 年 11 月 30 日，华盛顿州生态管理署通过了第 173-443 章 WAC 氢氟碳化合物 (HFC) 和第 173-455 章 WAC 空气质量费（Air Quality Fee）规则的规则修正案。

该规则规定了在华盛顿销售的新型固定式制冷和空调设备的最大的全球变暖潜势阈值(GWP)。拟议规则还制定了一项制冷剂管理计划，以减少华盛顿目前使用的商用制冷和空调系统泄漏造成的排放。

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)

Vào ngày 30 tháng 11 năm 2023, Bộ Môi Sinh đã thông qua các sửa đổi cho Chương 173-443 WAC Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) và Luật Phí Chất lượng Không khí WAC Chương 173-455.

Luật này thiết lập giới hạn khả năng nóng lên toàn cầu (GWP) tối đa cho các thiết bị điều hòa không khí và máy lạnh cố định mới được bán ở Washington. Luật này cũng cũng tạo ra một chương trình quản lý chất làm lạnh để giảm lượng khí thải từ các hệ thống điều hòa không khí và làm lạnh thương mại bị rò rỉ hiện đang được sử dụng ở Washington.

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

한국어 (Korean)

2023년 11월 30일, 주 환경부는 WAC 173-443장 수소불화탄소(HFC) 및 WAC 173-455장 대기질 수수료 규정에 관한 규칙 수정안을 채택했습니다.

이 규칙은 워싱턴에서 판매되는 새로운 고정식 냉동 및 공조 장비에 대한 최대 지구 온난화 지수(GWP) 기준을 설정합니다. 이 규칙은 또한 워싱턴 전역에서 사용되는 상업용 냉동 및 공조 시스템의 누출로 인한 배출을 줄이기 위한 냉매관리 프로그램을 만듭니다.

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.