CAR CAR Refrigerant Recovery & Handling 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The EPA's 'de minimis' exemption under Section 608 allows venting refrigerant only when:
- The amount released is considered too small to require recovery equipment use (Correct answer)
- The appliance is older than 20 years
- The system pressure is below atmospheric
- No recovery machine is available on-site
Correct answer: The amount released is considered too small to require recovery equipment use
The de minimis exemption covers incidental releases unavoidable during good-faith recovery efforts, not intentional venting of any recoverable amount.
Question 2: Which organization sets the standards for DOT cylinders used to store recovered refrigerants, including pressure ratings and test intervals?
- Department of Transportation (DOT) (Correct answer)
- EPA
- ASHRAE
- UL
Correct answer: Department of Transportation (DOT)
DOT regulates the design, testing, labeling, and re-qualification intervals for all compressed gas cylinders used in transport and storage.
Question 3: A recovery cylinder should never be filled beyond what percentage of its rated capacity by weight?
- 80% (Correct answer)
- 90%
- 100%
- 70%
Correct answer: 80%
Filling a recovery cylinder above 80% of its rated capacity creates a risk of hydrostatic pressure buildup as liquid refrigerant expands with temperature rise.
Question 4: Foam insulation in older refrigerators may contain blowing agents such as CFC-11. During recycling, this foam should be:
- Processed through a foam-shredding system with gas capture to recover the blowing agent (Correct answer)
- Removed manually and discarded in a regular dumpster
- Burned on-site to destroy the CFC content
- Left in the appliance and shredded without capture
Correct answer: Processed through a foam-shredding system with gas capture to recover the blowing agent
EPA regulations require that CFC blowing agents trapped in foam be captured during shredding rather than released into the atmosphere.
Question 5: What label information is REQUIRED on a recovery cylinder used to store mixed or unknown refrigerants?
- 'Mixed/Unknown Refrigerants – Do Not Mix' with date and technician info (Correct answer)
- Only the facility name and address
- The word 'RECOVERED' in large letters only
- No special labeling is required beyond the DOT cylinder markings
Correct answer: 'Mixed/Unknown Refrigerants – Do Not Mix' with date and technician info
Proper labeling of unknown or mixed refrigerant cylinders prevents cross-contamination and ensures downstream reclaimers can handle or dispose of the contents correctly.
Question 6: Under EPA Section 608, intentionally venting a regulated refrigerant during appliance recycling can result in a civil penalty of up to how much per day, per violation?
- $44,539 (Correct answer)
- $5,000
- $500
- $100,000
Correct answer: $44,539
EPA's maximum civil penalty for violating Section 608 venting prohibitions is adjusted annually for inflation and can reach tens of thousands of dollars per day per violation.
CAR CAR Refrigerant Recovery & Handling 2
The EPA's 'de minimis' exemption under Section 608 allows venting refrigerant only when: