[Shop-talk] car a/c work

[opposumking at verizon.net]

>On May 6, 2010, Mullen, Tim (IS) <Tim.Mullen at ngc.com> wrote:
>
Randall wrote:
>>
>> And just BTW, it's a violation of federal law to service A/C
>> without a license.
>
>Sorry not correct...
>
>It requires a federal license (fairly easy to get) to purchase R12, and the
>law requires that all R12 be evacuated from an AC system and recycled
instead
>of venting it to the air.
>
>However, anyone can buy R134a and although it is strongly recommended that
it
>be recycled when you empty a system it is not absolutely required and there
is
>no penalty for not recycling R134a.

And even that is mildly overstated.

 EPA issued a white paper many years ago clarifying that the purchaser of R12
did not need a license, as long as they were buying it for a shop where a
mechanic had an R12 license.B  EPA said they always mean to allow a parts
runner or receptionist to be able to pick up the R-12 for the certified
mechanic.
 http://www.epa.gov/ozone/title6/608/sales/sales.html

 There is no recycling requirement in the CAA.B  There is a capture
requirement, and even allows for several types of releases.
 http://www.epa.gov/ozone/title6/608/608fact.html