In late 2023, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) announced updates to 6 NYCRR Parts 494 and 495. Part 494 regulates hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and Part 495 regulates sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). Both of these compounds are potent greenhouse gases (GHGs) with extremely high global warming potentials.
To read in more detail about what is included in Parts 494 and 495, please visit Walden’s blog on the topic.
How Can You Voice Your Opinion on These Updates?
The public comment period for these two regulations opened on January 10, 2024. Comments will be accepted until March 19, 2024 for Part 494 and until March 21, 2024 for Part 495. Further details on how to submit your comments are available in the blog post linked above.
NYSDEC is also conducting virtual public hearings for both of these regulations. If you would like to join in and provide your comments in this way, you can do so on March 13, 2024 for Part 494 and on March 14, 2024 for Part 495. Hearings will be held at 2 p.m. and at 6 p.m. on both dates. To register, you can find links to all four webinars on NYSDEC’s “Climate Change Regulatory Revisions” webpage.
Why Is NYSDEC Proposing These Changes?
NYSDEC is working on these regulatory updates in order to comply with the New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). The CLCPA was signed into law in 2019 and establishes emissions reduction milestones, as well as other climate-related goals, for the state to meet over the coming decades. If you are interested in learning more about the CLCPA, click here.
Walden has been keeping close track of relevant climate-related regulations that are rolling out, and we are preparing to help our clients that will be affected by these changes. If you are concerned about how the CLCPA will impact your operations, contact Walden’s sustainability team at 516-588-6859. We can help you make sense of all of the current regulations and take the necessary steps to comply.
Photo by Noah Negishi on Unsplash
Keep track of updates to Parts 494 and 495, as well as a variety of other regulations, here. Contact Walden at 516-588-6859 for help with compliance.