May hydrocarbon refrigerants be used to replace CFC-12, commonly referred to as "FreonŽ ," in cars?
No. It is illegal to use hydrocarbon refrigerants like HC-12aŽ and DURACOOL 12aŽ as substitutes for CFC-12 in automobile or truck air conditioning under any circumstances.

What is EC-12a and what is its legal status?
Because it has not been submitted for review under the SNAP program, EPA is not aware of EC-12a's chemical composition. EC-12a is not legal to sell or use in any refrigeration or A/C end-use as a substitute for CFC-12 or any other ozone-depleting refrigerant, because it has not been submitted for SNAP review.

Enviro-Safe Refrigerants Agrees to Halt Sales of Unapproved Flammable Hydrocarbon Refrigerants as Direct Replacements for Ozone Depleting Substances


Enviro-Safe Refrigerants Inc. of Pekin, Illinois, has agreed to pay a $300,000 civil penalty and cease marketing and sale of unapproved flammable hydrocarbon refrigerants as substitutes for ozone depleting substances (ODS). ODS are being phased out of production and importation because they deplete the Earth’s stratospheric ozone layer. As part of the United States’ transition away from ODS, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program evaluates and approves substitute refrigerants so that they can safely and legally replace ODS. EPA evaluates these potential substitute refrigerants according to health, safety and environmental criteria. The Clean Air Act addresses ODS and establishes standards and requirements where a substitute for an ODS is sought to be introduced to the marketplace.

According to the two-count complaint, filed simultaneously with the settlement today in the Central District of Illinois, Enviro-Safe allegedly violated Clean Air Act requirements through the marketing and sale of two flammable hydrocarbon refrigerant products, ES 22a and ES 502a, as substitutes for ODS without providing the requisite information to EPA for review and approval. EPA has not approved any flammable hydrocarbon as a replacement for ODS in systems not specifically designed for flammable refrigerants and has warned that use of flammable refrigerants in those systems presents a risk of fire or explosion.

“With this settlement, Enviro-Safe will pay a penalty, stop its nationwide sales of unapproved flammable refrigerants and ozone depleting substances, and notify consumers of potential safety hazards from these products,” said Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden of the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This civil action illustrates how the requirements of the Clean Air Act guard consumer safety and the health of our environment each and every day.”

“The actions Enviro-Safe will be required to take under this consent decree will protect consumers and the environment from a potentially dangerous product,” said Regional Administrator Susan Hedman of EPA.

In addition to paying a penalty and halting non-compliant sales, the company will also state on the label of any flammable refrigerant, its website and other marketing materials that the refrigerant is “flammable to an open flame or spark” and to “proceed with caution if used in systems designed for non-flammable refrigerants.” Labels must also include any use restrictions for approved substitutes. The company will notify by mail all known past customers that purchased products labeled “ES 12a,” “ES 22a” and “ES 502a” of potential safety hazards associated with such products.

The FBI, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Criminal Investigation Division, and the U.S. Department of Transportation - Office of Inspector General are conducting an investigation into a flammable “refrigerant” sold as Super-Freeze 22a, Super-Freeze12a, Super-Freeze 134a, Enviro-Safe 22a, and R134a. These products have not been submitted to the EPA for review as alternative and accepted refrigerants.

If you have purchased any of the above refrigerants and/or received a letter notification from the FBI, you have been identified as a possible victim who may have unknowingly purchased flammable refrigerant.

This refrigerant product had been marketed as a drop-in replacement, second generation, non-ozone depleting hydrocarbon refrigerant. The target consumers were home owners and do-it yourselfers. The product could be purchased online and over the telephone by anyone; a refrigeration license was not required to make the purchase.

If a flammable refrigerant has been installed into your air conditioning system, call a licensed heating and air conditioning professional, and do not attempt to service the system yourself. If you suspect a leak, call your local fire department immediately. The flammable refrigerants are not believed to contain the “rotten eggs” smell typically associated with liquefied petroleum gas or propane.

EPA has issued a national press release that warns against the use of refrigerant substitutes that pose a fire and explosion risk. More information can be found at: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress...0!OpenDocument.

The large number of possible victims necessitates that we ask for your assistance in one of the two ways listed below. Any responses are voluntary but will prove useful to our investigation. Completion of the questionnaire would help us further identify you as a victim and greatly help our investigation.

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