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PA EPA PROPOSES CUTS IN SMOG FORMING EMISSIONS FROM PAINTS

Release Date: 07/4/96
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PA EPA PROPOSES CUTS IN SMOG FORMING EMISSIONS FROM PAINTS

FOR RELEASE: WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 1996

EPA PROPOSES CUTS IN SMOG-FORMING EMISSIONS FROM PAINTS AND OTHER COATINGS

EPA today announced a proposal cutting emissions of smog-forming volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by 106,000 tons annually from the architectural coatings industry, a 20 percent reduction from current levels. VOCs are one of the primary ingredients in the formation of ground-level ozone (smog), the most pervasive air pollutant in the United States. Architectural coatings are commonly used by consumers and contractors and include products such as exterior and interior house paints, highway and traffic paints, primers, industrial maintenance coatings and wood and roof coatings. The architectural and industrial maintenance coatings or "AIM" rule would affect about 500 architectural coating manufacturers and importers nationwide. Today's action is based on the pollution prevention method of product reformulation, instead of add-on control devices. Product reformulation would require manufacturers to reduce the amount of VOCs in the coatings. A VOC content level is proposed for each of the 55 categories of architectural coatings, similar to levels already in effect in New York and New Jersey for several years. Many coatings currently on the market already meet EPA's limits. Many state governments and industries support a national rule, believing that because architectural coatings are interstate products, they are most efficiently and effectively regulated at the federal level. Also, without this rule, many states might need to further tighten controls on autos and small facilities to attain the federal smog standard. Today's proposal also contains several compliance options and exemptions that would provide flexibility to small companies, such as a variance provision allowing extended compliance time based on economic hardship. EPA held hundreds of discussions with industry, environmental groups and state and local agencies over the past four years in developing today's proposed rulemaking, including special meetings with approximately 100 small, regional companies. EPA's Economic Impact Analysis predicts the market impact of today's action will be relatively slight. The proposal applies only to architectural coatings manufactured for sale or distribution in this country after April 1, 1997. Today's announced action will appear soon in the Federal Register, but will be computer-accessible immediately through EPA's electronic bulletin board system, the Technology Transfer Network (TTN) at 919-541-5742 (backup number for access problems is 919-541-5384) under "Recently Signed Rules," on the TTN's Clean Air Act Amendments bulletin board. (For further technical information on today's proposal, contact Ellen Ducey at 919-541-5408.)

R-96 ###