ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM AT KSC
Permitting & Compliance - Air Quality Program - Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS)
Title VI of the Clean Air Act (CAA) established the Federal program dedicated to the Protection of the Stratospheric Ozone Layer. Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 82 contains the regulations for ozone depleting substances (ODSs) and is applicable to KSC operations and activities.
Below is a summary of some key regulatory requirements applicable to KSC operations:
- 40 CFR Part 82.154 states that no person maintaining, servicing, repairing, or disposing of appliances my knowingly vent or otherwise release into the environment any Class I or Class II ozone depleting substance used as refrigerant in such equipment
- 40 CFR Parts 82.156 and 82.166 state that accidental releases of equipment normally containing more than 50 pounds of refrigerant must be recorded and tracked to determine the leak rate. Equipment must be repaired to bring the annual leak rate to below 35% of the total charge
- 40 CFR Part 82.158 requires recycling and recovery equipment to be certified
- 40 CFR Part 82.161 requires all technicians who maintain, service, or repair appliances or equipment to be certified
KSC maintains the agency-wide reserve of Halon (aka “NASA Halon Bank”). 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart H, details the regulations for Halon emissions reduction.
At KSC, all chemical releases (to ground, water, air, etc.) shall be reported according the requirements in KNPR 8500.1 Chapter 4 (Pollution Incident Reporting and Notification). Organizations and contractors are required to report all releases of ODS’s even if they do not exceed a regulatory reportable quantity (RQ) threshold level. Pollution Incident Reporting Forms (KSC Form 21-555) must be submitted to the NASA Environmental Assurance Branch within three working days after the release.
Ozone Depleting Substances Points of Contact
- Douglas Tomlin (321-867-0321)
- Christine Vanaman (321-867-3586)