For Release:  (Washington, D.C. -- Friday, March 16, 2007)

U.S. Aims to Accelerate Phase Out of Ozone Damaging Chemicals

Contact: Jessica Emond, (202) 564-4355 / emond.jessica@epa.gov

The United States has submitted a proposal to adjust the Montreal Protocol, accelerating the phase-out of ozone damaging chemicals. The proposal includes four elements that can be considered individually or as a package:

1)       Accelerating the phase-out date of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) by 10 years;

2)       Adding interim reduction steps;

3)       Setting an earlier baseline;

4)       Phasing out the most damaging HCFCs to the ozone layer as the first priority. 

These proposals would accelerate existing efforts to address ozone layer protection, cleaner air, and climate change by calling on the global community to act more quickly in phasing out hydrochlorofluorocarbons. In addition, this year is the 20^th anniversary of the signing of the Montreal Protocol, which presents an excellent opportunity to assess the progress that the Parties have made since 1987, as well as an opportunity to accelerate the work that remains to be done to meet the Treaty's objectives.

For more information about the proposal: http://www.epa.gov/ozone/intpol/montprotocolamend.html

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