제 목 : Propesal Would Cut Pollution From Paints, Coatings
일 자 : 1996년 11월
제공처 : Safety & Health
An EPA proposal would cut emissions of volatile organic compounds
from architectural and industrial maintenance coatings by 20 percent,
or 106,000 tons annually. Volatile organic compounds are one of
the primary ingredients in the formation of smog, or ground-level
ozone. Architectural coatings include products such as exterior
and interior house paints, deck sealers, highway and traffic paints,
primers, industrial maintenance coatings, and wood and roof coatings.
They are commonly used by consumers and contractors.
The proposed rule would apply to about 500 architectural-coating
manufacturers and importers nationwide, and to 55 categories of
architectural coatings. Under the proposal, manufacturers would
reduce the amount of volatile organic compounds in the coatings
by reformulsting their products. The coatings themselves would
then contain fewer volatile organic compounds and emit less
pollution when consumers or contractors used them, according to
Ellen Ducey in the EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
According to the EPA, the proposal would significantly reduce
overall emissions. "The emissions from these industrial coatings
represent 2 percent of all man-made volatile organic compounds
emissions," says Ducey. "They are one of the largest identifiable,
unregulated sources of volatile organic compounds."
The EPA has proposed a volatile organic compound content level
for each architectural coating, similar to levels already in effect
in New York and New Jersey. Many coatings currently on the market
already meet these levels, according to the EPA.
The proposal contains several compliance options and exemptions
that would provide flexibility to small companies. One variance
provision would allow extended compliance time based on economic
hardship.
The EPA believes the proposed rule will help states attain federal
smog standards without further tightening controls on cars and small
facilities. "Every state has to look at smaller and smaller sources
of volatile organic compounds" for reductions, says Ducey.
The proposed rule applies only to architectural coatings
manufactured for sale or distribution in the United States
after April 1, l997. For more information, contact Ellen Ducey
in the EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standads at
(9l9) 541-5408.
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