Part 494, Hydrofluorocarbon Standards And Reporting

Pre-Proposal Stakeholder Engagement, March 2023

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation hosted an informational pre-proposal stakeholder outreach webinar to provide local governments the opportunity to learn and ask questions about the intended rulemaking to update 6 NYCRR Part 494, "Hydrofluorocarbon Standards and Reporting." This presentation was joined by the Town of Saugerties, who spoke about their Climate Smart Communities grant to replace the refrigerant in their Ice Arena.

Part 494 Pre-Proposal Local Governments Informational Webinar Slides March 2023 (PDF).

Part 494 Pre-Proposal Local Governments Informational Webinar Recording March 2023 (leaves DEC's website).

Additional questions and feedback can be mailed to [email protected] with the subject line, "Part 494 Update," or to Lia Heintjes, NYSDEC Office of Climate Change, 625 Broadway, Albany NY, 12233-1030.

Pre-Proposal Stakeholder Engagement, February 2023

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation hosted two informational webinars to provide the public the opportunity to learn and ask questions about the rulemaking to update 6 NYCRR Part 494, "Hydrofluorocarbon Standards and Reporting." The goal of the updated regulation will be to further reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions from refrigerants, foams, and aerosol propellants per the recommendations of the Scoping Plan (leaves DEC's website) and following the requirements of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Chapter 106 of the Laws of 2019).

Part 494 Pre-Proposal Informational Webinar Slides February 2023 (PDF).

Request for Feedback, July 2022

DEC issued the following Request for Feedback on key questions related to major sources of HFC emissions in New York State and potential regulatory mechanisms for reducing these emissions. The comment period is now closed.

Adopted Part 494, Hydrofluorocarbon Standards and Reporting

DEC has adopted 6 NYCRR Part 494, Hydrofluorocarbon Standards and Reporting, which establishes prohibitions on certain hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) substances in certain end-uses as previously included in the US Environmental Protection Agency, Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. These prohibitions go into effect statewide starting in 2021 and include the sale, installation, and commercial use of certain refrigerants in new or retrofitted food refrigeration equipment, large air-conditioning equipment (or chillers), and vending machines as well as prohibitions on substances used in foams and as aerosol propellants in new consumer products. The proposal also includes administrative and record-keeping requirements for manufacturers of the affected products.

Part 494 and supporting rulemaking documents are available on this website. The table of the adopted prohibitions and effective dates can be found in the Express Terms:

Part 494, Hydrofluorocarbon Standards and Reporting- Other Regulatory Statements

Rural Area Flexibility Analysis (RAFA)

The edits made to the Express Terms do not require any changes to the Rural Area Flexibility Analysis.

Job Impact Statement (JIS)

The edits made to the Express Terms do not require any changes to the Job Impact Statement.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for Small Businesses and Local Governments

The edits made to the Express Terms do not require any changes to the Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for Small Businesses and Local Governments.

These documents may also be inspected at NYS DEC, Central Office, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY. Please call the Office of Climate Change for an appointment at (518) 402-8448.

Contact: Suzanne Hagell, NYS DEC - Office of Climate Change, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-1030, Phone: (518) 402-8448, E-mail [email protected]