[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[February 11, 1992]
[Page 232]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement by Press Secretary Fitzwater on the Phaseout of Ozone-
Depleting Substances

February 11, 1992
     President Bush today announced that the United States will 
unilaterally accelerate the phaseout of substances that deplete the 
Earth's ozone layer and called on other nations to agree to an 
accelerated phaseout schedule. Current U.S. production is already more 
than 40 percent below the levels allowed by the Montreal Protocol and 
more than 20 percent ahead of Europe's nonaerosol production phasedown.
    Recent scientific findings indicate that emissions of these 
substances, major CFC's, halons, methyl chloroform, and carbon 
tetrachloride, are depleting the stratospheric ozone layer more quickly 
than previously had been believed. The President announced that, with 
limited exceptions for essential uses and for servicing certain existing 
equipment, all production of these substances in the United States will 
be eliminated by December 31, 1995. To accelerate progress in the near 
term, the President called upon U.S. producers to reduce production of 
these substances to 50 percent of 1986 levels by the end of this year.
    Under the terms of the Clean Air Act of 1990, which President Bush 
signed into law in November of 1990, the administration has authority to 
accelerate the phaseout of these substances without new legislation. The 
President also announced that the U.S. will re-examine the phaseout 
schedule of HCFC's, and will consider recent evidence suggesting the 
possible need to phase out methyl bromide.
    The President noted that due in large part to the use of innovative, 
market-based mechanisms such as production fees and tradable allowances, 
the U.S. has already reduced CFC production 42 percent below 1986 
levels, a reduction beyond that required by either the Clean Air Act or 
the amended Montreal Protocol. The President pointed out that the U.S. 
has been a leader in reducing CFC's, agreeing to a full phaseout of 
these gases in February 1989, enacting a fee on their production in 
November of 1989, legislating the full phaseout in November of 1990, and 
making the first contribution to a multilateral fund established to 
assist developing countries in phasing out CFC's.
    The President called upon those nations which have not yet signed 
and ratified the Montreal Protocol to do so, and urged other nations to 
join the U.S. in accelerating the phaseout of CFC's and other ozone-
depleting gases even faster than required by the Protocol.