1990 Clean Air Act Amendment Summary: Title VI

Stratospheric Ozone and Global Climate Protection

The new law builds on the market-based structure and requirements currently contained in EPA's regulations to phase out the production of substances that deplete the ozone layer. The law requires a complete phase-out of CFCs and halons with interim reductions and some related changes to the existing Montreal Protocol, revised in June 1990.

Under these provisions, EPA must list all regulated substances along with their ozone depletion potential, atmospheric lifetimes and global warming potentials within 60 days of enactment.

In addition, EPA must ensure that Class I chemicals be phased out on a schedule similar to that specified in the Montreal Protocol -- CFCs, halons, and carbon tetrachloride by 2000; methyl chloroform by 2002 -- but with more stringent interim reductions. Class II chemicals (HCFCs) will be phased out by 2030. Regulations for Class I chemicals will be required within 10 months, and Class II chemical regulations will be required by December 31,1999.

The law also requires EPA to publish a list of safe and unsafe substitutes for Class I and II chemicals and to ban the use of unsafe substitutes.

The law requires nonessential products releasing Class I chemicals to be banned within 2 years of enactment. In 1994 a ban will go into effect for aerosols and non-insulating foams using Class II chemicals, with exemptions for flammability and safety. Regulations for this purpose will be required within one year of enactment, to become effective two years afterwards.

Full text, Title VI - Stratospheric Ozone Protection