EPA Proposes National Rule For Refinish Coatings
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officially published its proposed "National Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Emission Standards for Automobile Refinish Coatings" rule on April 30. The proposal sets VOC limits (grams-per-liter) by automotive refinish coating category. Products that exceed the limits could not be manufactured or imported for U.S. sale after the rule takes effect.
The rule does not contain any point-of-sale restrictions on the purchase of refinish products. The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has advocated greater control of refinish products at the point-of-sale to ensure that those buying the products can properly use and dispose of them.
"We are disappointed that point-of-sale was not included in the proposal, but we are pleased that there are no recordkeeping requirements imposed on shops," said Robert L. Redding, Jr., ASA Washington representative.
The rule would not supersede more stringent state or local rules. Its main impact would be to prohibit the U.S. sale of coatings with high solvent content, such as lacquer coatings. Most enamel products and other "medium-solids" coatings already on the market are expected to comply.
According to Jim Sell, senior counsel for the National Paint and Coating Manufacturers Association, a group that represents refinish companies, the association is generally pleased with the rule.
"We’re happy with it," said Sell. "The rule does not impose high-solids or waterborne technology on attainment areas of the country. These coatings do work, but we didn’t want them forced on end-users."
The proposal establishes a comment period ending July 1, but does not specify when the rule will be final. Sell said he expects the rule to take effect by Feb. 1, 1997. This timeframe takes into account the four-month compliance period in the proposal. The proposal indicates products dated prior to the compliance deadline could be sold.
VOCs contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, or smog. The rule is expected to reduce VOC emissions from automotive refinishing by 36,000 tons annually, or 37 percent, from the estimated total of 97,200 tons emitted per year. This would be a tiny fraction of the 22.7 million tons of VOCs emitted from all sources in 1992. However, EPA estimates on VOC emissions from automotive refinishing are wide-ranging, so the EPA has proposed a voluntary survey be sent to shop owners asking about solvent use, since solvents contain VOCs.
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AutoInc. Magazine ®, Vol. XLIV No. 6, June 1996