EPA Seeks Curbs on Ozone-Depleting Chemicals

The Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday proposed new restrictions on two man-made chemicals believed to be depleting the atmosphere’s ozone layer, which shields the Earth from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet radiation.

The proposed rules would cut production of chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, to 50% of 1986 levels by 1998 and would freeze halon gas at 1986 levels by 1994.

EPA’s proposal mirrors an ozone protection pact signed by 24 nations in Montreal in September and would provide the mechanism for U.S. enforcement of its restrictions once that agreement is formally ratified by the Senate and the governments of the other countries.

EPA Administrator Lee M. Thomas said that, based on scientific evidence about the atmosphere’s ability to absorb the chemicals, the new limits would prevent the ozone layer from deteriorating further.

“If the world goes forward with the (treaty) protocol, we do not anticipate a depletion beyond the natural variance,” said Thomas, who predicted that the international accord would prevent 3 million cancer deaths in the United States alone by the year 2075.

However, the agency’s action was criticized by some environmental groups as inadequate.

“(The rules) don’t go far enough or fast enough to protect the ozone layer,” said David D. Doniger, an attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group that filed suit to compel the EPA to issue regulations.

A spokesman for Sen. John H. Chafee (R-R. I.), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, said the limits should not have been made conditional on the Montreal treaty’s international ratification. “If for some reason ratification is delayed, then EPA doesn’t put any controls in effect,” spokesman Steve Shimberg said.

Ratification Predicted

But Thomas said that he is “totally confident” that the Senate will ratify the treaty and predicted that it will begin consideration of it by the end of the month. He said that, if the EPA were to impose the limits independently, some other nations might decide that they did not need to join in the pact.

The regulations are to take effect in 1989 after a period of public comment.

CFCs are used in refrigerators, solvents and plastic foam products. Halon gas is used in fire extinguishers. Scientists widely agree that the chemicals cause a dissipation in the protective ozone layer, contributing to skin cancer and possible crop damage.

Thomas had called two years ago for a 95% reduction in CFC production but said new research has convinced him that a 50% cut will maintain current ozone levels.

Shimberg questioned that conclusion, but an industry group, the Alliance for Responsible CFC Policy, praised the EPA action.

“I’m glad they stuck closely to the international accord,” Executive Director Kevin J. Fay said. “The key is for the U.S. to ensure widespread participation among other countries.”

Fay predicted that the new rules will double the price of CFCs and cost the industry $5.5 billion by 2010. He said that there are no suitable alternatives for the chemicals in some uses but that the new rules will hasten the search for substitutes.