Final answer:
The EPA allows incidental releases of exempt refrigerants, usually during maintenance or servicing of equipment, provided that proper procedures are followed to minimize emissions. Deliberate release of any refrigerant, however, is prohibited.
Step-by-step explanation:
The refrigerant release that is allowable by the EPA because the refrigerant is 'exempt' is a) Accidental release. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has regulations to control and manage the release of refrigerants due to their potential to cause environmental harm, particularly to the ozone layer and as greenhouse gases contributing to climate change. However, there are certain situations, such as incidental releases during the maintenance, servicing, repair, or disposal of air conditioning and refrigeration equipment, where the release of refrigerants may not be penalized, assuming the proper procedures are being followed to minimize emissions.
Some refrigerants are considered exempt by the EPA due to having less impact on the environment, such as those with low global warming potential (GWP) or no ozone depletion potential (ODP). These exempt refrigerants, when released accidentally in small quantities during normal operations, would not be subject to the same strict regulations as more harmful refrigerants. It's important to note that deliberate release of any refrigerant is prohibited.