EPA MODIFIES EMISSION STANDARDS FOR AEROSOL PAINT COATINGS

In the United States, commercial products containing VOCs are listed under Section 183(e) of the Clean Air Act (CAA). EPA requires that this regulation be made for those areas that do not meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQ) for ozone.

The last modification to the National Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Emission Standards for Aerosol Coatings will occur on December 30, 2022, according to the unified spring schedule.

Among the new proposals is the update of coating category product-weighted reactivity limits for aerosol coating categories. Add new compounds and reactivity factors (RF) as well as update existing reactivity values.

Also, these changes are in response to requests from industry trade associations for EPA to revise the national VOC standards to be consistent with state standards such as those in California.

Comments received when the rule was proposed indicated support from industry trade associations such as the American Coatings Association (ACA), the Household & Commercial Products Association (HCPA) and the National Aerosol Association (NAA) and Sycamore manufacturer Seymore.

During the discussions to introduce the amendments to the regulations on the marketing of coatings, the government representative requested that a compliance date of two years after publication in the Federal Register be specified for the updated limits for this category. The ACA argued that the industry should be guaranteed sufficient time to reformulate its products and adapt its distribution methods before the start of the new regulation.