April 19, 2004—March 18 was the tenth anniversary of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program, which has helped the US to take a leading role in protecting the Earth’s stratospheric ozone layer. In 1987, the United States along with over 150 other nations signed the Montreal Protocol that established schedules for both developed and developing nations to phase out ozone-destroying chemicals such as CFCs and halons.
Under the SNAP program, authorized by the US Clean Air Act, EPA has identified and reviewed over 300 alternatives to these chemicals in major industrial, consumer, and defense applications resulting in the prevention of emissions of 3.3 million tons of ozone depleting chemicals. The goal of SNAP is to expedite movement away from ozone-depleting compounds by identifying substitutes that offer lower overall risks to human health and the environment.
SNAP continues to provide industry with incentive and guidelines to develop innovative and environmentally friendly solutions for critical applications, including refrigeration, air conditioning, insulation, aerosols, fire suppression, and solvents and adhesives. For more information on the program visit EPA/Alternatives.
