U. S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
           OFFICE OF AIR QUALITY PLANNING & STANDARDS
                  EMISSION STANDARDS DIVISION
                RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC 27711

                          COVER SHEET
                                
DATE:          7/28/98

TO:            Recipients of the Surface Coating of Metal Furniture Questionnaire

FROM:          Dr. Mohamed Serageldin

VOICE PHONE:   919-541-2379             FAX PHONE:  919-541-5689

E-Mail         serageldin.mohamed@epamail.epa.gov

OFFICE:        U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
               OFFICE OF AIR QUALITY PLANNING & STANDARDS
               EMISSION STANDARDS DIVISION
               RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC 27711
MESSAGE:
In response to comments received by the EPA from some of the questionnaire recipients, the
following clarifications are provided to assist you when completing Forms A and B.

Form A, Item 15
1.   In the second column of the table under "Quantity," enter the total amount of each
     product type actually used by the facility in the reporting year, including that amount not
     reported in this questionnaire.

2.   The fourth column of the table represents the percentage of the total usage (the amount
     reported in the second column of the table) that is reported in this questionnaire.  This
     percentage is important because the instructions for Form B require that a minimum of 90
     percent of the facility's actual usage of each material must be reported.  This percentage
     will be an indicator for both the facility and the EPA to verify that the appropriate
     material usage is reported in the questionnaire response.

     As an example, the percentage to be reported in the fourth column is to be calculated as
     follows:

          Facility A used five different coatings during the reporting year with the following
          actual usages:

          Primer 1:  25 liters
          Primer 2:  250 liters    
          Topcoat 1:  50 liters
          Topcoat 2:  500 liters   (This represents one item reported in Form D)
          Topcoat 3:  175 liters

          The total facility coating usage, 1,000 liters, should be reported in the second
          column of Form A, Item 15.

          Facility A is required to report a minimum of 90 percent of its coating usage on
          Form B in order to reduce the reporting burden for small use coatings.  The
          combined usage of Primer 2, Topcoat 2, and Topcoat 3 is 925 liters, or 92.5
          percent of the total usage.  Therefore, Facility A does not have to report Primer 1
          or Topcoat 1 on Form B.

          After completing Form B for the other coatings, the facility would total all the
          usages reported in Item 2(a) for each coating reported on Form B.  For this
          example, the total reported usage would be 925 liters.

          To calculate the percentage to be reported in the fourth column of Form A, Item
          15, divide the total reported on Form B (925 liters) by the total facility usage
          (1,000 liters), then multiply by 100 percent.  Thus, 92.5 percent should be
          reported.

Form B, Item 2(b)
1.   The EPA has determined that the percent usage requested in this item can be calculated
     directly from information reported on the other forms.  Consequently, you are not
     required to complete this item.  The EPA will make this calculation during its analysis of
     the survey responses.

2.   A revised Form B is enclosed noting this change.