Which of the following refrigerant releases is considered a violation of the prohibition on venting? (A) A) Refrigerants emitted in the course of normal operation of an appliance. (B) Release of "de minimis" quantities in the course of making good faith attempts to recapture and recycle or safely dispose of refrigerant. (C) Release of mixtures of nitrogen and refrigerant that result from adding nitrogen to a fully charged appliance to lea check the appliance. (D) D) Refrigerants emitted when connecting or disconnecting low loss hoses to charge or service an appliance.

The prohibition on venting refrigerants is designed to minimize the release of harmful substances into the atmosphere, particularly those that contribute to ozone depletion and global warming. However, there are specific exceptions where minimal or controlled releases are permitted, such as during normal operation, minor leaks, or when making good faith attempts to recover and recycle refrigerants. Let's analyze each option: - **(A) Refrigerants emitted in the course of normal operation of an appliance.** - **Allowed:** Minimal emissions that occur during the regular use of an appliance are generally permitted as they are considered unavoidable. - **(B) Release of "de minimis" quantities in the course of making good faith attempts to recapture and recycle or safely dispose of refrigerant.** - **Allowed:** Small, incidental releases that occur during the recovery and recycling process are typically exempt from the prohibition. - **(C) Release of mixtures of nitrogen and refrigerant that result from adding nitrogen to a fully charged appliance to leak check the appliance.** - **Violation:** This involves the intentional release of refrigerants into the atmosphere as part of a leak-checking process, which goes against the prohibition on venting. Such deliberate releases are not permitted, even if mixed with inert gases like nitrogen. - **(D) Refrigerants emitted when connecting or disconnecting low loss hoses to charge or service an appliance.** - **Allowed:** The use of low-loss hoses is specifically designed to minimize refrigerant emissions during servicing, and allowable emissions under these circumstances are generally exempt. **Therefore, the correct answer is:** **(C) Release of mixtures of nitrogen and refrigerant that result from adding nitrogen to a fully charged appliance to leak check the appliance.**