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National Volatile Organic Compounds Emission Standards for Architectural Coatings

 [Federal Register: June 25, 1996 (Volume 61, Number 123)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 32729-32746]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]




ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 59
[AD-FRL-5526-3]
 
National Volatile Organic Compounds Emission Standards for 
Architectural Coatings

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule and notice of public hearing.




SUMMARY: The proposed standards would reduce emissions of volatile 
organic compounds (VOC) from architectural coatings. The proposed 
standards implement Section 183(e) of the Clean Air Act (CAA), as 
amended in 1990, which requires the Administrator to control VOC 
emissions from certain categories of consumer and commercial products.
    Exposure to ozone is associated with a wide variety of human health 
effects, agricultural crop loss, and damage to forests and ecosystems. 
As required by Section 183(e), the Administrator conducted a study to 
determine the potential of VOC emissions from consumer and commercial 
products to contribute to ozone levels that violate the National 
Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone and established a list 
of product categories to be regulated. Based on the criteria described 
in the study and accompanying report, the EPA determined that VOC 
emissions from architectural coatings should be reduced. Therefore, the 
EPA is proposing standards to reduce ozone-causing VOC emissions from 
these coatings. The proposed standards would reduce annual emissions of 
VOC by 106,000 tons representing a 20 percent reduction from 1990 
levels.

    The proposed rule is centered around requiring VOC content levels 
for 55 individual architectural coating categories. When promulgated 
these requirements on manufacturers and importers of architectural 
coatings are anticipated to take effect on April 1, 1997. This 
rulemaking is on an expedited schedule, with a relatively short public 
comment period.

    Following proposal of this rule, the EPA plans to participate in a 
joint study with the architectural coatings industry. This study will 
focus on the feasibility of adopting more stringent VOC requirements in 
the future.

DATES: Comments. Comments pertaining to the proposed rule must be 
received on or before August 30, 1996.

    Public Hearing. A public hearing will be held, if requested, to 
provide interested persons an opportunity for oral presentation of 
data, views, or arguments concerning the proposed standards for 
architectural coatings. If anyone contacts the EPA requesting to speak 
at a public hearing concerning this proposed rule by July 18, 1996, a 
public hearing will be held on July 30, 1996, beginning at 10:00 a.m. 
Persons interested in attending the hearing should notify Ms. Kim Teal, 
(919) 541-5580 by July 18, 1996, to verify that a hearing will occur 
and for notification of the location of the hearing. The record for the 
public hearing will remain open for 30 days after completion of the 
hearing to provide an opportunity for the submission of rebuttal and 
supplementary information.

    Persons wishing to present oral testimony concerning this proposed 
rule must contact Ms. Kim Teal at the EPA by July 18, 1996. Ms. Teal 
may be contacted at the following address: Coatings and Consumer 
Products Group (MD-13), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research 
Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, telephone number (919) 541-5580, 
FAX number (919) 541-5689.

ADDRESSES: Comments. Comments should be submitted (in duplicate) to: 
Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center (6102), Attention: 
Docket No. A-92-18, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street 
SW, Washington, DC 20460. Comments and data may also be submitted 
electronically by sending electronic mail (e-mail) to: a-and-rdocket
@epamail.epa.gov. Electronic comments must be submitted as an 
ASCII file avoiding the use of special characters and any form of 
encryption. Comments and data will also be accepted on disks in 
WordPerfect in 5.1 file format or ASCII file format. All comments and 
data in electronic form must be identified by the docket number A-92-
18. No Confidential Business

[[Page 32730]]

Information (CBI) should be submitted through e-mail. Electronic 
comments on this proposed rule may be filed online at many Federal 
Depository Libraries.

    Docket. The proposed regulatory text and other materials related to 
this rulemaking, excepting any information claimed as CBI, are 
available for review in a public record. This record has been 
established for this rulemaking under docket number A-92-18. The 
docket, including paper versions of electronic comments, is available 
for inspection from 8:00a.m. to 5:30p.m. Monday-Friday, excluding legal 
holidays. The docket is located at the EPA's Air and Radiation Docket 
and Information Center, Room M1500, 1st Floor, 401 M St. S.W., 
Washington, D.C. 20460, telephone (202) 260-7548, FAX (202) 260-4400. A 
reasonable fee may be charged for copying.
    Background Information Document. The background information 
document (BID) and other documents supporting the proposed standards 
may be obtained from the docket or from the U.S. EPA Library (MD-35), 
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, telephone number (919) 
541-2777. Please refer to ``Architectural Coatings--Background for 
Proposed Standards,'' EPA-453/R-95-009a.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information concerning the 
proposed standards, contact Ms. Ellen Ducey at (919) 541-5408, Coatings 
and Consumer Products Group, Emission Standards Division (MD-13), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 
27711.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulated entities

    Entities potentially regulated by this action are those who have 
the potential to supply products which emit VOC and are listed in 
Sec. 183(e) of the CAA in the following regulated categories and 
entities:



              Category                  Examples of regulated entities  


Manufacturer........................  Source that produces, packages, or
                                       repackages architectural coatings
                                       for sale or distribution in the  
                                       U.S.                             
                                       coatings from a location outside 
                                       the U.S. into the U.S. for sale  
                                       or distribution within the U.S.  
                                 bases.]
                                                               Effective
                       Coating category                         Apr. 1, 
                                                                  1997  
Fire-retardant/resistive coatings:                                      
Flat coatings:                                                          
Nonflat coatings:                                                       
Quick-dry coatings:                                                     
Shellacs:                                                               
Stains:                                                                 
Waterproofing sealers and treatments:                                   
Wood preservatives:                                                     
  manufacturer.

 
 

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