Refrigerant Matters November/ December 2025 Newsletter

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November/December 2025 ISSUE

The RMS training on the EPA’s Chronically Leaking Appliance Reporting Regulation is now available on demand at on the RMS training website. This regulation is the key to the EPA Enforcement Office’s list of bad actors, so it should also be a key element of any compliance program.

EPA TTR Reporting Webinar

The EPA is hosting a webinar on December 17^th on the annual Technology Transitions Rule reporting requirements for manufacturers and importers of products and equipment. The webinar includes step-by-step instructions on how to register for reporting and use the reporting platform. The first reports are due on March 31, 2026. The reporting form is available on the Technology Transitions Reporting website.

Washington Releases 2026 Fee Info

Washington State Department of Ecology updated its 2026 fee structure for the Refrigerant Management Program (RMP). DEC is raising the fees for facilities with large systems because 2025 revenue from the RMP did not cover operating costs. There will be a new, additional carbon tax of $0.15 per metric ton of CO₂-equivalent of systems’ refrigerant charge size.

EPA’s SNAP Program issued Proposed Rule 27, which has an official title with 22 words in it. The rule will list HCR 4141, R-1234ze(E), and R-516 as acceptable for use (with use conditions) in new light commercial AC and heat pumps, and it updates existing use conditions for R-32, R-452B, R454A, R-454B, R454C, R-457A, R-290, R-441A in new light commercial AC and heat pumps. The fact sheet is here. Comments on the proposal are due by 12/26/25 at 11:59 PM EST.

The NASRC has state funding available for transitioning to natural refrigerants. California has $65 million available to replace existing high-GWP systems with natural refrigerant systems. New York State provides funding to help offset the upfront costs of transitioning existing facilities. The NJ Cool program offers funding for retrofit projects in existing buildings. And the Massachusetts Commercial Refrigeration Grant Program funds the adoption of ultra-low-GWP refrigerants in new and existing facilities.

EPA Restructuring

The EPA “restructured” the Office of Air and Radiation. The restructure abolished the Office of Atmospheric Protection, which contained the climate change divisions, the ENERGY Star program, and the Stratospheric Protection division – the division that regulates refrigerants. It also abolished the Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards which established and implemented national air quality standards and regulations. Programs that were not abolished were moved to two new offices: the Office of Clean Air Programs and the Office of State Air Partnerships.

A 2000 year-old fridge

Archaeologists found a Roman cooling pit from 2000 years ago that kept perishable food and drinks fresh for Rome’s soldiers in Germania. The cooling pit was lined with clay, stone, straw, or sand for insulation. Advanced refrigeration technology didn’t help the Romans in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, however, so the refrigerator suffered the same “hot demolition process” as the rest of the outpost during Rome’s chaotic withdrawal from the area.

Need Some Help?

If you need help with these or any other topics related to refrigerant management, feel free to reach out to me (Keilly Witman). We’re a friendly bunch and happy to help!

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