Nexreg is giving a presentation at the Southern Aerosol Technical Association’s annual conference. Topic of the presentation - Canadian compliance, including issues such as CCCR-2001 and proposed VOC regulations. For anyone who is interested a copy of the slides is available here.
The slides for the public meeting RE: California’s Proposed Amendments to the Consumer Products Regulation are available here (PDF). They contain a useful summary of California’s proposed actions on VOCs.
From the Air Resources Board - the public availibility of the modified text of the California Consumer Product Regulations. The modified text is available as a PDF here. The deadline for public comment is August 27, 2008. The Public Comments received are available here.
The California Air Resources Board has called a public meeting “to discuss and evaluate technical issues surrounding potential Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emission reduction opportunities from Paint and Lacquer Thinners, Multi-purpose Solvents and so called “Packaged Solvents”.
The meeting can be attended in person or via teleconference on Wednesday August 26th.
A PDF of the meeting is available here.
From the Air Resources Board:
The following tables provide the results of the 2006 Consumer and Commercial Products Survey (survey) for select categories. This table lists the total tons of VOC per day (VOC includes fragrance) reported by survey category.
The categories are as follows:
A proposed rule from the EPA that covers “Consumer and Commercial Products: Control Techniques Guidelines in Lieu of Regulations for Miscellaneous Metal Products Coatings, Plastic Parts Coatings, Auto and Light-Duty Truck Assembly Coatings, Fiberglass Boat Manufacturing Materials, and Miscellaneous Industrial Adhesives”:
Pursuant to section 183(e)(3)(C) of the Clean Air Act, EPA proposes to determine that control techniques guidelines will be substantially as effective as national regulations in reducing emissions of volatile organic compounds in ozone national ambient air quality standard nonattainment areas from the following five product categories: Miscellaneous metal products coatings, plastic parts coatings, auto and light-duty truck assembly coatings, fiberglass boat manufacturing materials, and miscellaneous industrial adhesives. Based on this determination, we may issue control techniques guidelines in lieu of national regulations covering these product categories. We have prepared draft control techniques guidelines for the control of volatile organic compound emissions from each of the product categories covered by this proposed determination. Once finalized, these control techniques guidelines will provide guidance to the States concerning EPA’s recommendations for reasonably available control technology-level controls for these product categories. We further propose to take final action to list the five Group IV consumer and commercial product categories addressed in this notice pursuant to Clean Air Act section 183(e).
DATES: Comments: Written comments on this proposed action must be received by August 13, 2008, unless a public hearing is requested by July 24, 2008.
For more information, click on the above link.
First of all, we would like to welcome you to our newly re-designed news site. We hope that you find it easier to navigate than the previous version of Regulatory News by Nexreg Compliance. The site has not been tested against every possible browser and resolution combination. If you find any display errors, we would appreciate it if you let us know by e-mail at info@nexreg.com
In other news, Nexreg Compliance is introducing three free regulatory compliance newsletters. The two-page newsletters summarize major chemical compliance news and will be released bi-monthly. The three newsletters are as follows:
The first issue of the Canadian newsletter has just been released. If you wish to receive copies of one or all over the newsletters sent by mail or by e-mail (as a PDF file), please send your contact information to info@nexreg.com.
From Canada.com:
Vinyl shower curtains release over 100 toxic chemicals into the air in people’s bathrooms, including known carcinogens and reproductive toxins, according to a new report calling for the ban of Polyvinyl chloride in bath curtains and liners.
The laboratory tests of five new PVC shower curtains, released Thursday, found 108 different volatile organic compounds were released into the air over a 28-day period, including off-gassing above the recommended level in the United States for seven days.
…Some VOCs are also suspected or known to cause cancer in humans…
The shower curtains also contained phthalates (DEHP), already banned in children’s toys in California, Washington and the European Union. Canada has listed DEHP as a “toxic” substance and has recommended it be banned in children’s products, but has yet to implement the recommendation.
Two of the chemicals detected, toluene and ethylbenzene, are also on California’s Proposition 65 list. The law prohibits companies doing business in the state from exposing individuals to chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity without first giving consumers a clear warning.
Several other chemicals found in the curtains are considered a human health concern under Canada’s Environmental Protection Act, including ethylbenzene, but are not regulated.
Click on the above link for the full story. If any new legislation arises from this, we will keep you informed.
From the EPA - Standards of Performance for Equipment Leaks of VOC in the Synthetic Organic Chemicals Manufacturing Industry; Standards of Performance for Equipment Leaks of VOC in Petroleum Refineries:
EPA is proposing to extend the stay of certain provisions of the standards of performance for equipment leaks of VOC in the Synthetic Organic Chemicals Manufacturing Industry (SOCMI) and Petroleum Refineries. In the “Rules and Regulations'’ section of this Federal Register we are extending the stay as a direct final rule without a prior proposed rule. If we receive no adverse comment, we will not take further action on this proposed rule.
DATES: Written comments must be received by July 2, 2008.
Click on the above link for more information.
A news release from California’s Air Resources Board:
…[T]he California Air Resources Board fined Ohio-based Blaster Chemical Company $158,000 for selling illegal rust-removing spray around the state.
ARB investigators found that between 2003 and 2006, 237,000 cans of Blaster Chemical’s “Fabulous Blaster Penetrating Catalyst,” used to dislodge rusted metal parts, was illegally distributed and sold at multiple retailers throughout California. The products contained illegal amounts of volatile organic compounds which ARB strictly regulates through its consumer products program.
“Reducing VOC emissions from consumer products is an integral part of California’s effort to reduce smog,” said ARB Chairman Mary Nichols. “Companies that violate the law will be cited.”
Click on the above link for the full release.