Ozone Layer

WASHINGTON (CN) – The parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer have agreed that the countries participating in the agreement may continue to use class I ozone-depleting substances such as refrigerants and solvents, for testing, through Dec. 31, 2011.The Environmental Protection Agency has issued regulations extending the exemption for the production and import of the ozone-depleting substances. Persons in the United States may continue to produce and import the controlled substances for laboratory and analytical uses that have not already been identified by the EPA as nonessential. [Click here](http://www.courthousenews.com/2008/01/16/Federal Regulation Brief Jan. 15, 2008.doc) for details and other new regulations.