IRVINE : Companies Granted Ozone Exemptions

The City Council this week approved its first exemptions to companies affected by a law barring the use of chlorofluorocarbons and similar chemicals tied to the destruction of the Earth’s ozone layer.

Exemptions were granted to 27 companies, including many high-tech firms that use the chemicals, known as CFCs and TCAs, commonly found in solvents, coolants, degreasers, foaming agents, inks, plastic packaging materials and some medical equipment.

Many firms said the law would cause them financial hardship because alternatives either have not been invented or are being refined.

But in the case of the Tapmatic Corp., which uses 46,000 gallons of the chemicals per year to manufacture a metal coolant and lubricant, products using alternative substances do not sell.

Company officials said they would go out of business without being able to use the banned chemicals because clients would buy products elsewhere.

Other companies requested exemptions allowing them more time to find alternatives.

For Ricoh Electronics Inc., which manufactures copier components, the law led to safer production materials, officials said.

Sixteen of the firms qualified for exemptions because they produced less than 55 gallons or 450 pounds of the chemicals per year.

Two firms are exempt because they work under military contract specifications. Another is exempt because its products are crucial to health care.