Heating, Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International v. EPA

A second motion to intervene to defend the final rule was filed by four trade associations “whose members share a need for continuous and reliable refrigeration, cold-chain operations, and HVAC equipment.”

A manufacturer and installer of industrial-scale refrigeration systems and a trade association moved to intervene on behalf of EPA; they argued that no party would adequately represent their interest in seeing that regulations do not overly restrict the use of refrigerants in the cold storage sector. The manufacturer-installer and trade association also filed a petition for review (No. 26-1202) challenging one subdivision of the final rule that addressed cold storage warehouse systems.

Three trade associations filed a petition for review in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) final reconsideration rule amending regulations implementing the Technology Transitions Provisions of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 (AIM Act). The final rule rolled back regulatory provisions that imposed restrictions on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in certain intermodal refrigerated transport containers, certain chillers used for industrial process refrigeration (IPR), certain IPR equipment used to manufacture semiconductors, retail food remote condensing units, supermarket systems, cold storage warehouses, certain laboratory equipment, and residential and light commercial air conditioning and heat pump systems. The trade associations' petition sought review only of certain portions of the final rule addressing cold storage warehouse systems, remote condensing units in retail food refrigeration systems, and supermarket systems.