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SNAP Regulations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program implements section 612 of the amended Clean Air Act of 1990, which requires EPA to evaluate substitutes for the ozone-depleting substances to reduce overall risk to human health and the environment. Through these evaluations, SNAP generates lists of acceptable and unacceptable substitutes for each of the major industrial use sectors. The intended effect of the SNAP program is to promote a safe, smooth transition away from ozone depleting compounds to the available substitutes.

A chronological listing of all SNAP rules and notices is also available.

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, available as a free download, to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more about PDF, and for a link to the free Acrobat Reader.

Rules

The following rules list substitutes that have been determined unacceptable, acceptable to use conditions, and acceptable subject to narrow use.

Substitutes that are acceptable without restriction are listed below in Notices of Acceptability

Rule 15- Fire suppression andexplosion protection listing under SNAP
Effective Date: November 27, 2006

Direct Final/Concurrent Proposal (September 21, 2006; 71 FR 56539 / 71 FR 56422)
Direct Final Rule: HTML Version and Print Version (11 pp, 195 KB)
Concurrent Proposal: HTML Version and Print Version (4 pp, 99 KB)
Fact Sheet

Rule 14- Alternatives for themotor vehicle air conditioning sector
Effective Date: August 12, 2008

Final Rule (June 12, 2008; 73 FR 33304)
HTML Version and Print Version (8 pp, 137 KB)
Fact Sheet
Notice of Proposed Rule (September 14, 2006; 71 FR 55140)
HTML Version and Print Version (10 pp, 194 KB)
Fact Sheet

This rule lists HFC-152a as an acceptable alternative with use conditionsfor motor vehicle air conditioning systems.

Rule 13- The use of HCFC-22 and HCFC-142b in foams / listing of ozone depleting substitutes in foam blowing
Effective Date: May 29, 2007
Final Rule (March 28, 2007; 72 FR 14432)
HTML Version and Print Version (12 pp, 198 KB)
Fact Sheet
Notice of Proposed Rule (November 4, 2005; 70 FR 67120)
HTML Version
Fact Sheet

Rule 12- n-propyl bromide(nPB) in solvents cleaning, aerosols, and adhesives as a substitute for CFC-113, methyl chloroform, and HCFC-141b

Questions and answers about the May 2007 proposed and final rules

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Adhesives, Coatings, and Aerosols (May 30, 2007; 72 FR 30168)
Print Version (40 pp, 1.52 MB)
Fact Sheet
Final Rule for Solvent Cleaning (May 30, 2007; 72 FR 30142)
Print Version (27 pp, 451 kb)
Fact Sheet

The May 2007 final rule for nPB in solvent cleaning finds nPB an acceptable substitute for ozone depleting substances in metals, electronics, and precision cleaning.
Corrections to Proposed Rule (October 2, 2003; 68 FR 56809)
Proposed Rule (June 3, 2003; 68 FR 33284)
Corrections to the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (March 25, 1999; 64 FR 14417)
Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (February 18, 1999; 64 FR 8043)

The June 3, 2003, rule proposed to list n-propyl bromide (nPB) as anacceptable substitute for ozone depleting substances (ODSs), subject to use conditions, in the solvent cleaning sector as well as aerosol solvents and adhesive uses. EPA initially proposed that the use of nPB is acceptable subject to a use condition, limiting contaminants of nPB formulations from isopropyl bromide.

Rule 11- Fire suppression substitutes
Effective Date: March 28, 2003

Correction to Final Rule, Typographical Errors (April 7, 2003; 68 FR 16749)
Correction to Final Rule, Additional Information (April 7, 2003; 68 FR 16729)
Final Rule (January 27, 2003; 68 FR 4004)

EPA is issuing its decision on the acceptability of three halon substitutes in the fire suppression and explosion protection sector. HFC227BC found acceptable subject to use conditions in total flooding. C6-perfluoroketone and H Golden HFPEs found acceptable subject to narrowed use limits for the streaming end-use.

Rule 10- Acceptable and unacceptable substitutes for ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) in foams blowing
Effective Date: September 30, 2004

Final Rule (September 30, 2004; 69 FR 58269)
Notice of Data Availability (March 10, 2004; 69 FR 11358)

This action finds HCFC-141b unacceptable for use as a substitute for ODSs in all end uses in the foam blowing sector, except for specified exemptions,including use in space vehicles, nuclear energy, defense, and research and development for foreign customers.
Effective Date: August 21, 2002

Final Rule (July 22, 2002; 67 FR 47703)
Notice of Data Availability (May 23, 2001; 66 FR 28408)
Proposed Rule (July 11, 2000; 65 FR 42653)

This action lists acceptable and unacceptable substitutes for ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) in the foam-blowing sector. The final rule withdraws the proposed decision to list HCFC-22 and HCFC-142b as unacceptable substitutes for existing users; lists HCFC-22 and HCFC-142b as unacceptable substitutes for HCFC-141b in rigid polyurethane/ polyisocyanurate laminated boardstock, rigid polyurethane appliance foam, and rigid polyurethane spray foam applications; lists HCFC-22 and HCFC-142b as acceptable substitutes for HCFC-141b, with narrowed use limits (users must ascertain and document that other acceptable alternatives are not technically feasible) in commercial refrigeration and sandwich panel applications and in the rigid polyurethane slabstock and other foams end-use; and lists HCFC-124 as an unacceptable substitute in all foam end-uses. At this time, EPA is deferring final action on its proposed decision to list HCFC-141b as an unacceptable foam-blowing agent.

Rule 9- Removal of restrictions on certain fire suppression substitutes for ozone-depleting substances (ODSs), and a list of substitutes
Effective Date: April 1, 2002

Final Rule (January 29, 2002; 67 FR 4185)

EPA is rescinding use conditions that limit human exposure to halocarbon and inert gas agents used in the fire suppression and explosion protection industry. These use conditions are redundant with safety standards established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). In addition, EPA is taking direct final action to change the listing for HBFC-22B1 from acceptable subject to use conditions to unacceptable.

Rule 8- Prohibition for the use of refrigerant blends containing hexafluoropropylene
Effective Date: January 26, 1999

Interim Final Rule Prohibiting the Use of Refrigerant Blends Containing Hexafluoropropylene (January 26, 1999; 64 FR 3865)

Hexafluoropropylene (HFP) and any blend containing HFP are listed asunacceptable for substitutes for CFC-12 and HCFC-22.

Rule 7- MT-31 as an unacceptable refrigerant under EPA's Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program
Effective Date: January 26, 1999

Interim Final Rule Prohibiting the use of MT-31 (January 26, 1999; 64 FR 3861)

The refrigerant blend MT-31 is listed as unacceptable for all refrigeration and air-conditioning end-uses.

Rule 6- Listing of two substitutes for ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) in the fire suppression and explosion protection sector
Effective Date: May 26, 2000

Final Rule (April 26, 2000; 65 FR 24387)
Corrections to Proposed Rule (March 25, 1999; 64 FR 14417)
Proposed Rule (February 18, 1999; 64 FR 8038)

This action lists two substitutes for halon B1301 and halon 1211, IG-100,and HCFC Blend E in the fire suppression and explosion protection sector asacceptable, subject to use restrictions. Substitute IG-100 is for the end-use of total flooding systems and HCFC Blend E is for the end-use of streaming agents.

Rule 5- Two gases found unacceptable as substitutes for refrigerants in "self-chilling cans"
Effective Date: April 2, 1999

Final Rule (March 3, 1999; 64 FR 10373)
Proposed Rule (February 3, 1998; 63 FR 5491)

The action of this rule, lists unacceptable the use of HFC-134a and HFC-152a as refrigerants in "self-chilling cans."

Rule 4- Listing of motor vehicle air-conditioning systems substitutes and a range of certain other substitutes
Effective Date: May 28, 1999

Final Rule (April 28, 1999; 64 FR 22981)
Proposed Rule (May 21, 1997; 62 FR 27873)

This action clarifies the criteria for unique fittings used in motor vehicle air-conditioning systems, and addresses the acceptability of HFC-4310mee and HCFC-225ca/cb. The end-uses for these substitutes are inmetal cleaning and solvent in aerosols. C3F8, HFC-236fa, and C4F10 are found acceptable with use conditions for halon 1301 in-fire suppression and explosion prevention. The unacceptability of substitutes in the refrigerationand air conditioning, solvents, aerosols, fire suppression, and adhesives, coatings, & inks sectors are also listed.

Rule 3- Cross-media evaluation of risks to human health and environment by sector end-use
Effective Date: November 15, 1996

Final Rule (October 16, 1996; 61 FR 54029)
Proposed Rule (May 22, 1996; 61 FR 25604)

EPA issued its decisions on the acceptability HFC-4310mee, HCFC-141b, perfluoropolyethers, and perfluorocarbons. The end-uses of these substitutes are electronic and precision cleaning as well as aerosol solvents.

Rule 2- Cross-media evaluation of risks to human health and environment by sector
Effective Date: June 21, 1996

Final Rule (May 22, 1996; 61 FR 25585)
Proposed Rule (October 2, 1995; 60 FR 51383)

EPA is issuing its preliminary decisions on the acceptability ofsubstitutes not previously reviewed by the Agency. Monochlorotoluenes/benzotrifluorides are acceptable subject to use conditions as substitutes for CFC-113 and MCF in electronics, precision, and metals cleaning. Blend Zeta and HCFC Blend Delta are acceptable as substitutes for CFC-12 in retrofitted and new motor vehicle air conditioners, subject to the use conditions applicable to motor vehicle air conditioning.

Rule 1- Comment response document of public options concerning EPA rulemaking
Effective Date: July 13, 1995

Final Rule (June 13, 1995; 60 FR 31092)
Proposed Rule (September 26, 1994; 59 FR 49108)

EPA issued decisions on refrigerants and solvent cleaning sectors found acceptable subject to use conditions. The refrigeration sector deals with end-uses both retrofit and new equipment. HCFC Blend Beta was found as acceptable subject to use conditions for motor vehicle air conditioning. Blend B was found acceptable subject to use conditions for; centrifugalchillers, chillers, industrial process refrigeration, skating rinks, storage warehouses, refrigerated transport, food refrigeration, ice machines, freezers, dehumidifiers, and air conditioners. HCFC-225 ca/cb is decided as a substitute for CFC-113 and MCF acceptable to use conditions in precision and metals cleaning. Various other substitutes were found unacceptable for refrigerants and air conditioning as well as in the solvents cleaning sector.

SNAP Notices of Acceptability

These notices expand the list of acceptable or pending substitutes for ozone depleting substances (ODSs) under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. The substitutes listed below are acceptable without restriction in the specific end-uses unless designated as pending. A pending substitute can be sold after the 90 day review period has expired, but its acceptability may be affected by a subsequent rulemaking. To see substitutes that are restricted or prohibited, see the list of rules above.

Notice 23:
Effective Date: January 2, 2009

Notice 23 (January 2, 2009; 74 FR 21)

This notice expands the list of acceptable substitutes for end uses in refrigeration and air conditioning, fire suppression, and foam blowing. The determinations concern new substitutes.

Notice 22:
Effective Date: October 4, 2008

Notice 22 (October 4, 2007; 72 FR 56628)

This notice expands the list of acceptable substitutes for end uses in refrigeration and air conditioning. The determinations concern new substitutes.

Notice 21:
Effective Date: September 28, 2006

Notice 21 (September 28, 2006; 71 FR 56884)

This notice expands the list of acceptable substitutes for end uses in refrigeration and air conditioning, foam blowing, cleaning solvents, aerosols, and sterilants. The determinations concern new substitutes.

Notice 20:
Effective Date: March 29, 2006

Notice 20 (March 29, 2006; 71 FR 15589)

This notice expands the list of acceptable substitutes for end uses in refrigeration and air conditioning, foam blowing, and fire suppression and explosion protection. The determinations concern new substitutes.

Notice 19:
Effective Date: October 1, 2004

Notice 19 (October 1, 2004; 69 FR 58903)

EPA has found acceptable additional substitutes for use in the following sectors: refrigeration and air conditioning, foam blowing, fire suppression and explosion protection, and sterilants. This document also clarifies thestatus of the use of a hydrochlorofluorocarbon as an aerosol solvent, revises the global warming potential for a substitute previously listed as acceptable for use in fire suppression and explosion protection based on new information, and clarifies a statement from the previous SNAP notice of acceptability of August 21, 2003, regarding a refrigerant.

Notice 18:
Effective Date: August 21, 2003

Notice 18 (August 21, 2003; 68 FR 50533)

The EPA has approved acceptable substitutes for use in the following sectors: refrigeration and air conditioning, solvents cleaning, foam blowing, fire suppression and explosion protection, and aerosols.

Notice 17:
Effective Date: December 20, 2002

Correction to Notice 17 (April 7, 2003; 68 FR 16728)
Notice 17 (December 20, 2002; 67 FR 77927)

The EPA has approved acceptable substitutes for use in the following sectors: refrigeration and air conditioning, solvents cleaning, fire suppression and explosion protection, and aerosols.

Notice 16:
Effective Date: March 22, 2002

Notice 16 (March 22, 2002; 76 FR 13272)

The ozone depleting substitutes are for use in the following sectors: refrigeration and air conditioning; aerosols; and adhesives, coatings, and inks. In addition, we are notifying the public of new information available on the toxicity of HCFC-225ca and HCFC-225cb, acceptable substitutes used in solvents cleaning.

Notice 15:
Effective Date: May 23, 2001

Notice 15 (May 23, 2001; 66 FR 28179)

EPA's decision for acceptable substitute uses in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector.

Notice 14:
Effective Date: December 18, 2000

Correction to Notice 14 (March 7, 2001; 66 FR 13655)
Notice 14 (December 18, 2000; 65 FR 78977)

This notice identifies EPA's decisions of acceptable substitutes for refrigeration, air conditioning, foams, non-aerosol solvent cleaning, and aerosol solvents. This action also requests information on the composition and safety of certain refrigerants for motor vehicle air conditioners. This notice also requests information on whether the SNAP program should include review of and establishment of use conditions for operations that involve manual cleaning with solvents or restriction of non-aerosol solvent substitutes to equipment that meets the cleaning equipment standards in the National Emission Standards for Halogenated Solvent Cleaning. Finally, this action updates readers on the SNAP program's review of n-propyl bromide for use as a substitute for ozone-depleting solvents used in the non-aerosol solvents cleaning, aerosol solvents and propellants, and adhesives, coatings and inks sectors.

Notice 13:
Effective Date: June 19, 2000

Notice 13 (June 19, 2000; 65 FR 37900)

There are listing of substitutes for refrigeration and air conditioning as well as foam blowing.

Notice 12:
Effective Date: April 11, 2000

Notice 12 (April 11, 2000; 65 FR 19327)

This notice deals with acceptable substitutes for refrigeration, airconditioning, and foam blowing. The end uses for refrigeration and air-conditioning are uranium isotope separation processing (retrofit), using furan as an acceptable substitute for CFC-114. All foam-blowing end uses are included, for saturated light hydrocarbons C3-C6 for HCFC-141b, except HCFC-141b replacement in spray foam applications.

Notice 11:
Effective Date: December 6, 1999

Notice 11 (December 6, 1999; 64 FR 68039)

This notice applies to substitutes for refrigeration, air conditioning, foam blowing, solvents cleaning sector, and aerosols.

Notice 10:
Effective Date: June 8, 1999

Notice 10 (June 8, 1999; 64 FR 30410)

This notice includes substitutes for; adhesives, coatings, and ink sector, aerosols sector, solvents sector, foams sector, and refrigeration and air conditioning sector. Refrigeration and air conditioning end uses include all R-502 end uses in addition to non-mechanical heat transfer, very low temperature refrigeration, and motor vehicle air conditioners. All end usesare applicable for solvent cleaning, aerosol solvents, adhesives, coatings, and ink sector.

Notice 9:
Effective Date: May 22, 1998

Notice 9 (May 22, 1998; 63 FR 28251)

This is a summary of acceptable decisions of substitutes for aerosol propellants. CFC-11, CFC-12, CFC-114, HCFC-22, and HCFC-142b are being replaced by HFC-227ea.

Notice 8:
Notice 8 (February 24, 1998; 63 FR 9151)

This notice contains substitutes for end uses in solvent cleaning, aerosols, foam blowing, and refrigeration and air conditioning. The end uses for foam blowing are CFCs, HCFCs, and polyurethane integral skin, with acceptable substitutions of formic acid and acetone. The end uses for aerosol solvents are CFC-11, CFC-113, MCF, and HCFC-141b, with an acceptable substitution of C5-C20 petroleum hydrocarbons. The solvent end uses include metal cleaning, electronic cleaning and precision cleaning with CFC-113. There are many refrigeration and air conditioning end-uses.

Notice 7:
Effective Date: June 3, 1997

Notice 7 (June 3, 1997; 62 FR 30275)

This notice lists GHG-X5, MT-31, HCFC-22, HCFC-142b, and GHG-X5 as substitutes for foam blowing, refrigeration, and air conditioning. The foam blowing end uses are HCFCs, polyurethane integral skin with an acceptable substitute of sub-saturated light hydrocarbons C3-C6. CFC-12 centrifugal and reciprocating chillers, industrial process refrigeration, cold storage warehouses, refrigerated transport, retail food refrigeration, vending machines, water coolers, commercial ice machines, household refrigerators, household freezers, and residential dehumidifiers (retrofitted and new). Also, CFC-12 motor vehicle air conditioning, automotive and non-automotive (retrofitted and new).

Notice 6:
Effective Date: March 10, 1997

Notice 6 (March 10, 1997; 62 FR 10700)

This notice contains substitutes for refrigeration and the foam sector. Substitutes include HFC-236fa and saturated light hydrocarbons C3-C6. The refrigeration sector end-use is CFC-114 industrial process refrigeration,with an acceptable substitute of HFC-236fa. The foam sector acceptable decisions are for the end-uses of HCFCs rigid polyurethane and polyisocyanurate laminated boardstock, HCFCs rigid polyurethane appliance, and saturated light hydrocarbons C3-C6. There are various acceptable substitutes for these end uses in the foam sector.

Notice 5:
Effective Date: September 5, 1996

Notice 5 (September 5, 1996; 61 FR 47012)

This notice expands the list of acceptable and pending substitutes andclarifies information on refrigerant blends R-410A, R-410B, and R-407C that EPA previously added to the acceptable substitute list. This notice lists acceptable substitutes in various and uses in refrigeration and air conditioning, foam blowing, fire suppression, explosion protection, solventcleaning, aerosols, adhesives, coatings, and inks. There are also pending substitutes, n-propyl bromide and HFC-4310, listed in aerosols and solvent cleaning.

Notice 4:
Effective Date: February 8, 1996

Notice 4 (February 8, 1996; 61 FR 4736)

This notice lists acceptable substitutes for the end-uses of refrigerants,fire suppression and explosion protection, foam blowing, and solvent cleaning.

Notice 3:
Effective Date: July 28, 1995

Notice 3 (July 28, 1995; 60 FR 38729)

This notice lists acceptable substitutes for end-uses in refrigeration and air conditioning sector, as well as fire suppression and explosion protection sector.

Notice 2:
Effective Date: January 13, 1995

Notice 2 (January 13, 1995; 60 FR 3318)

This notice states acceptable substitutes for the refrigeration and air conditioning sector, as well as the foam blowing sector.

Notice 1:
Effective Date: August 26, 1994

Notice 1 (August 26, 1994; 59 FR 44240)

This notice lists acceptable substitutes for the refrigeration and air conditioning sector, foam blowing sector, solvent cleaning sector, fire suppression and explosion protection sector, and the aerosol sector.

Other SNAP Federal Register Publications

Notice of Proposed Settlement with OZ Technology, Inc. (September 22, 1995; 60 FR 49275)
Notice of Denial of Petition from OZ Technology, Inc. (September 25, 1995; 60 FR 49407)
Notice of Denial of 2nd Petition from OZ Technology, Inc. (September 30, 1996; 61 FR 51018)
This petition requested that EPA find HC-12aŽ acceptable and HFC-134a unacceptable. The Notice simply alerts the public to the petition and the response, and gives the location where people can find each document. The petition itself was not submitted to EPA electronically and is not available. However, the cover letter to EPA's response may be read online or the entire 30-page response may be downloaded in WordPerfect 5.1 format (120K). The formats below refer to the Notice, not the response itself.

Notice of Denial of 3rd Petition from OZ Technology, Inc. (January 21, 1999; 64 FR 3272)

This petition requested that EPA find HC-12aŽ acceptable. The Notice simply alerts the public to the petition and the response, and gives the location where people can find each document. The petition itself was not submitted to EPA electronically and is not available. However, the cover letter to EPA's response may be read online and the entire response is available (18 pp, 57 K). The formats below refer to the Notice, not the response itself.
Notice of Data Availability; New Information Concerning SNAP Program Proposal on HCFC Use in Foams (May 23, 2001; 66 FR 28408)
Notice of Data Availability; Reports on CO2 Total Flooding Fire Extinguishing Systems (May 11, 2004; 69 FR 26059)

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