Consumer and Commercial Products: Control Techniques Guidelines in Lieu of Regulations for Paper, Film, and Foil Coatings; Metal Furniture Coatings; and Large Appliance Coatings, 37582-37605 [E7-13104]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 131 / Tuesday, July 10, 2007 / Proposed Rules
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 59
[EPA–HQ–OAR–2007–0454; FRL–8336–7]
RIN 2060–A014
Consumer and Commercial Products:
Control Techniques Guidelines in Lieu
of Regulations for Paper, Film, and Foil
Coatings; Metal Furniture Coatings;
and Large Appliance Coatings
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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AGENCY:
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Submit your comments,
identified by applicable docket ID
number, by one of the following
methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line
instructions for submitting comments.
• E-mail: a-and-r-docket@epa.gov.
• Fax: (202) 566–1741.
• Mail: Comments concerning the
Proposed Determination should be sent
to: Consumer and Commercial Products,
Group III—Determination to Issue
Control Techniques Guidelines in Lieu
of Regulations, Docket No. EPA–HQ–
OAR–2007–0454. Comments concerning
any draft CTG should be sent to the
applicable docket, as noted below:
Consumer and Commercial Products—
Paper, Film, and Foil Coatings, Docket
No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2007–0336;
Consumer and Commercial Products—
Metal Furniture Coatings, Docket No.
EPA–HQ–OAR–2007–0334; or
Consumer and Commercial Products—
Large Appliance Coatings, Docket No.
EPA–HQ–OAR–2007–0329,
Environmental Protection Agency, EPA
Docket Center, Mailcode 6102T, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington,
DC 20460. Please include a total of two
copies.
• Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center,
Public Reading Room, EPA West, Room
3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460. Such deliveries
are only accepted during the Docket’s
normal hours of operation, and special
arrangements should be made for
deliveries of boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to
the applicable docket. EPA’s policy is
that all comments received will be
included in the public docket without
change and may be made available
online at https://www.regulations.gov,
including any personal information
provided, unless the comment includes
information claimed to be confidential
business information (CBI) or other
information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Do not submit
information that you consider to be CBI
ADDRESSES:
SUMMARY: 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
three product categories: Paper, film,
and foil coatings; metal furniture
coatings; and large appliance coatings.
Based on this determination, EPA may
issue Control Techniques Guidelines in
lieu of national regulations for these
product categories. EPA has 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 technologylevel controls for these product
categories. EPA further proposes to take
final action to list the three Group III
consumer and commercial product
categories addressed in this notice
pursuant to Clean Air Act section
183(e).
DATES: Comments: Written comments
on the proposed determination must be
received by August 9, 2007, unless a
public hearing is requested by July 20,
2007. If a hearing is requested on the
proposed determination, written
comments must be received by August
24, 2007. We are also soliciting written
comments on the draft CTGs and those
comments must be submitted within the
comment period for the proposed
determination.
Public Hearing. If anyone contacts
EPA requesting to speak at a public
hearing concerning the proposed
determination by July 20, 2007, we will
hold a public hearing on July 25, 2007.
The substance of any such hearing will
be limited solely to EPA’s proposed
VerDate Aug<31>2005
determination under Clean Air Act
(CAA or the Act) section 183(e)(3)(C)
that the Control Techniques Guidelines
(CTGs) for the three Group III product
categories will be substantially as
effective as regulations in reducing
volatile organic compound (VOC)
emissions in ozone nonattainment areas.
Accordingly, if a commenter has no
objection to EPA’s proposed
determination under CAA section
183(e)(3)(C), but has comments on the
substance of a draft CTG, the commenter
should submit those comments in
writing.
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or otherwise protected through
www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The
www.regulations.gov Web site is an
‘‘anonymous access’’ system, which
means EPA will not know your identity
or contact information unless you
provide it in the body of your comment.
If you send an e-mail comment directly
to EPA without going through
www.regulations.gov, your e-mail
address will be automatically captured
and included as part of the comment
that is placed in the public docket and
made available on the Internet. If you
submit an electronic comment, EPA
recommends that you include your
name and other contact information in
the body of your comment and with any
disk or CD–ROM you submit. If EPA
cannot read your comment due to
technical difficulties and cannot contact
you for clarification, EPA may not be
able to consider your comment.
Electronic files should avoid the use of
special characters, any form of
encryption, and be free of any defects or
viruses.
Public Hearing: If a public hearing is
held, it will be held at 10 a.m. on July
25, 2007 at Building C on the EPA
campus in Research Triangle Park, NC,
or at an alternate site nearby. Persons
interested in presenting oral testimony
must contact Ms. Dorothy Apple, U.S.
EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards, Sector Policies and Programs
Division, Natural Resources and
Commerce Group (E143–03), Research
Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711,
telephone number: (919) 541–4487, fax
number (919) 541–3470, e-mail address:
apple.dorothy@epa.gov, no later than
July 20, 2007. Persons interested in
attending the public hearing must also
call Ms. Apple to verify the time, date,
and location of the hearing. If no one
contacts Ms. Apple by July 20, 2007
with a request to present oral testimony
at the hearing, we will cancel the
hearing.
Docket: All documents in the docket
are listed in the www.regulations.gov
index. Although listed in the index,
some information is not publicly
available, e.g., CBI or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
Certain other material, such as
copyrighted material, is not placed on
the Internet and will be publicly
available only in hard copy form.
Publicly available docket materials are
available either electronically through
www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at
the EPA Docket Center, Public Reading
Room, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301
Constitution Ave., NW., Washington,
DC. The Public Reading Room is open
from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday, excluding legal
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holidays. The telephone number for the
Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744,
and the telephone number for the Air
Docket is (202) 566–1742.
For
information concerning the CAA section
183(e) consumer and commercial
products program, contact Mr. Bruce
Moore, U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality
Planning and Standards, Sector Policies
and Programs Division, Natural
Resources and Commerce Group (E143–
03), Research Triangle Park, North
Carolina 27711, telephone number:
(919) 541–5460, fax number (919) 541–
3470, e-mail address:
moore.bruce@epa.gov. For further
information on technical issues
concerning the proposed determination
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
and draft CTG for paper, film, and foil
coatings, contact: Ms. Kim Teal, U.S.
EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards, Sector Policies and Programs
Division, Natural Resources and
Commerce Group (E143–03), Research
Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711,
telephone number: (919) 541–5580, email address: teal.kim@epa.gov. For
further information on technical issues
concerning the proposed determination
and draft CTG for metal furniture
coatings, contact: Ms. Martha Smith,
U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning
and Standards, Sector Policies and
Programs Division, Natural Resources
and Commerce Group (E143–03),
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
27711, telephone number: (919) 541–
2421, e-mail address:
37583
smith.martha@epa.gov. For further
information on technical issues
concerning the proposed determination
and draft CTG for large appliance
coatings, contact: Mr. Lynn Dail, U.S.
EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards, Sector Policies and Programs
Division, Natural Resources and
Commerce Group (E143–03), Research
Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711,
telephone number: (919) 541–2363, email address: dail.lynn@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Entities Potentially Affected by this
Action. The entities potentially affected
by this action include industrial
facilities that use the respective
consumer and commercial products
covered in this action as follows:
Category
NAICS code a
Examples of affected entities
Paper, film, and foil coatings ..............................
322221, 322222, 322223, 322224, 322225,
322226, 322229, 325992, 326111, 326112,
326113, 32613, 32791, 339944.
Metal furniture coatings ......................................
337124, 337214, 337127, 337215, 337127,
332951, 332116, 332612, 337215, 335121,
335122, 339111, 339114, 337127, 81142.
335221, 335222, 335224, 335228, 333312,
333319.
Facilities that apply coatings to packaging
paper, paper bags, laminated aluminum foil,
coated paperboard, photographic film, abrasives, carbon paper, and other coated
paper, film and foil products.
Facilities that apply protective, decorative, or
functional material to metal furniture components or products.
Facilities that apply coatings to household and
commercial cooking equipment, refrigerators, laundry equipment, laundry drycleaning and pressing equipment.
Not affected.
State, local and tribal regulatory agencies.
Large appliance coatings ...................................
Federal Government ..........................................
State/local/tribal government ..............................
a North
American Industry Classification System.
This table is not intended to be
exhaustive, but rather provides a guide
for readers regarding entities likely to be
affected by this action. To determine
whether your facility would be affected
by this action, you should examine the
applicable industry description in
sections II.A, III.A, and IV.A of this
notice. If you have any questions
regarding the applicability of this action
to a particular entity, consult the
appropriate EPA contact listed in the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
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section of this notice.
Preparation of Comments. Do not
submit information containing CBI to
EPA through www.regulations.gov or email. Send or deliver information
identified as CBI only to the following
address: Mr. Roberto Morales, OAQPS
Document Control Officer (C404–02),
U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning
and Standards, Research Triangle Park,
North Carolina 27711, Attention: Docket
ID EPA–HQ–OAR–2007–0454, 0336,
0334, or 0329 (as applicable). Clearly
mark the part or all of the information
that you claim to be CBI. For CBI
information in a disk or CD–ROM that
you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the
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disk or CD–ROM as CBI and then
identify electronically within the disk or
CD–ROM the specific information that
is claimed as CBI. In addition to one
complete version of the comment that
includes information claimed as CBI, a
copy of the comment that does not
contain the information claimed as CBI
must be submitted for inclusion in the
public docket. Information so marked
will not be disclosed except in
accordance with procedures set forth in
40 CFR part 2.
World Wide Web (WWW). In addition
to being available in the docket, an
electronic copy of this proposed action
will also be available on the World
Wide Web (WWW) through the
Technology Transfer Network (TTN).
Following signature, a copy of the
proposed action will be posted on the
TTN’s policy and guidance page for
newly proposed or promulgated rules at
the following address: https://
www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/. The TTN
provides information and technology
exchange in various areas of air
pollution control.
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Organization of this Document. The
information presented in this notice is
organized as follows:
I. Background Information and Proposed
Determination
A. The Ozone Problem
B. Statutory and Regulatory Background
C. Significance of CTGs
D. General Considerations in Determining
Whether a CTG Will Be Substantially as
Effective as a Regulation
E. Proposed Determination
F. Availability of Documents
II. Paper, Film and Foil Coatings
A. Industry Characterization
B. Recommended Control Techniques
C. Impacts of Recommended Control
Techniques
D. Considerations in Determining Whether
a CTG Will Be Substantially as Effective
as a Regulation
III. Metal Furniture Coatings
A. Industry Characterization
B. Recommended Control Techniques
C. Impacts of Recommended Control
Techniques
D. Considerations in Determining Whether
a CTG Will Be Substantially as Effective
as a Regulation
IV. Large Appliance Coatings
A. Industry Characterization
B. Recommended Control Techniques
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C. Impacts of Recommended Control
Techniques
D. Considerations in Determining Whether
a CTG Will Be Substantially as Effective
as a Regulation
V. Statutory and Executive Order (EO)
Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory
Planning and Review
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation
and Coordination With Indian Tribal
Governments
G. Executive Order: 13045: Protection of
Children From Environmental Health
and Safety Risks
H. Executive Order 13211: Actions
Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use
I. National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act
J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions
to Address Environmental Justice in
Minority Populations and Low-Income
Populations
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I. Background Information and
Proposed Determination
A. The Ozone Problem
Ground-level ozone, a major
component of smog, is formed in the
atmosphere by reactions of VOC and
oxides of nitrogen in the presence of
sunlight. The formation of ground-level
ozone is a complex process that is
affected by many variables.
Exposure to ground-level ozone is
associated with a wide variety of human
health effects, as well as agricultural
crop loss, and damage to forests and
ecosystems. Controlled human exposure
studies show that acute health effects
are induced by short-term (1 to 2 hour)
exposures (observed at concentrations
as low as 0.12 parts per million (ppm)),
generally while individuals are engaged
in moderate or heavy exertion, and by
prolonged (6 to 8 hour) exposures to
ozone (observed at concentrations as
low as 0.08 ppm and possibly lower),
typically while individuals are engaged
in moderate exertion. Transient effects
from acute exposures include
pulmonary inflammation, respiratory
symptoms, effects on exercise
performance, and increased airway
responsiveness. Epidemiological studies
have shown associations between
ambient ozone levels and increased
susceptibility to respiratory infection,
increased hospital admissions and
emergency room visits. Groups at
increased risk of experiencing elevated
exposures include active children,
outdoor workers, and others who
regularly engage in outdoor activities.
Those most susceptible to the effects of
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ozone include those with preexisting
respiratory disease, children, and older
adults. The literature suggests the
possibility that long-term exposures to
ozone may cause chronic health effects
(e.g., structural damage to lung tissue
and accelerated decline in baseline lung
function).
B. Statutory and Regulatory Background
Under section 183(e) of the CAA, EPA
conducted a study of VOC emissions
from the use of consumer and
commercial products to assess their
potential to contribute to levels of ozone
that violate the National Ambient Air
Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone,
and to establish criteria for regulating
VOC emissions from these products.
Section 183(e) of the CAA directs EPA
to list for regulation those categories of
products that account for at least 80
percent of the VOC emissions, on a
reactivity-adjusted basis, from consumer
and commercial products in areas that
violate the NAAQS for ozone (i.e., ozone
nonattainment areas), and to divide the
list of categories to be regulated into
four groups. EPA published the initial
list in the Federal Register on March 23,
1995 (60 FR 15264). In that notice, EPA
stated that it may amend the list of
products for regulation, and the groups
of product categories, in order to
achieve an effective regulatory program
in accordance with the Agency’s
discretion under CAA section 183(e).
EPA has revised the list several times.
See 70 FR 69759 (Nov. 17, 2005); 64 FR
13422 (Mar. 18, 1999). Most recently, in
May 2006, EPA revised the list to add
one product category, portable fuel
containers, and to remove one product
category, petroleum dry cleaning
solvents. See 71 FR 28320 (May 16,
2006). As a result of these revisions,
Group III of the list comprises five
product categories: Portable fuel
containers; aerosol spray paints; paper,
film, and foil coatings; metal furniture
coatings; and large appliance coatings.
The portable fuel containers 2 and
aerosol spray paints categories are
addressed in separate rulemaking
actions 3; the remaining three categories
are the subject of this action.
Any regulations issued under section
CAA 183(e) must be based on ‘‘best
available controls’’ (BAC). CAA section
183(e)(1)(A) defines BAC as ‘‘the degree
2 EPA promulgated a national regulation for VOC
emissions from portable fuel containers on February
26, 2007 (72 FR 8428). National VOC emission
standards for aerosol coatings currently are under
development.
3 Pursuant to the court’s order in Sierra Club v.
EPA, 1:01–cv–01597–PLF (D.C. Cir., March 31,
2006), EPA must take final action on the product
categories in Group III by September 30, 2007.
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of emissions reduction that the
Administrator determines, on the basis
of technological and economic
feasibility, health, environmental, and
energy impacts, is achievable through
the application of the most effective
equipment, measures, processes,
methods, systems or techniques,
including chemical reformulation,
product or feedstock substitution,
repackaging, and directions for use,
consumption, storage, or disposal.’’
CAA section 183(e) also provides EPA
with authority to use any system or
systems of regulation that EPA
determines is the most appropriate for
the product category. Under these
provisions, EPA has previously issued
‘‘national’’ regulations for architectural
and industrial maintenance coatings,
autobody refinishing coatings, consumer
products, and portable fuel containers.4
CAA section 183(e)(3)(C) further
provides that EPA may issue a CTG in
lieu of a national regulation for a
product category where EPA determines
that the CTG will be ‘‘substantially as
effective as regulations’’ in reducing
emissions of VOC in ozone
nonattainment areas. The statute does
not specify how EPA is to make this
determination, but does provide a
fundamental distinction between
national regulations and CTGs.
Specifically, for national regulations,
CAA section 183(e) defines regulated
entities as:
(i) * * * manufacturers, processors,
wholesale distributors, or importers of
consumer or commercial products for sale or
distribution in interstate commerce in the
United States; or (ii) manufacturers,
processors, wholesale distributors, or
importers that supply the entities listed
under clause (i) with such products for sale
or distribution in interstate commerce in the
United States.
Thus, under CAA section 183(e), a
regulation for consumer or commercial
products is limited to measures
applicable to manufacturers, processors,
distributors, or importers of the
solvents, materials, or products
supplied to the consumer or industry.
CAA section 183(e) does not authorize
EPA to issue national regulations that
would directly regulate end-users of
these products. By contrast, CTGs are
guidance documents that recommend
reasonably available control technology
(RACT) measures that States can adopt
and apply to the end users of products.
This dichotomy (i.e., that EPA cannot
directly regulate end-users under CAA
section 183(e), but can address endusers through a CTG) created by
4 See 63 FR 48792, 48819, and 48848 (September
11, 1998); and 72 FR 8428 (February 26, 2007).
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Congress is relevant to EPA’s evaluation
of the relative merits of a national
regulation versus a CTG.
C. Significance of CTGs
CAA section 172(c)(1) provides that
state implementation plans (SIPs) for
nonattainment areas must include
‘‘reasonably available control measures’’
(RACM), including RACT, for sources of
emissions. Section 182(b)(2) provides
that States must revise their ozone SIPs
to include RACT for each category of
VOC sources covered by any CTG
document issued after November 15,
1990, and prior to the date of
attainment. Those ozone nonattainment
areas that are subject to CAA section
172(c)(1) and submit an attainment
demonstration seeking more than 5
years from the date of designation to
attain must also meet the requirements
of CAA section 182(b)(2) and revise
their ozone SIPs in response to any CTG
issued after November 15, 1990, and
prior to the date of attainment. Other
ozone nonattainment areas subject to
CAA section 172(c)(1) may take action
in response to this guidance, as
necessary to attain.
EPA defines RACT as ‘‘the lowest
emission limitation that a particular
source is capable of meeting by the
application of control technology that is
reasonably available considering
technological and economic feasibility,
44 FR 53761 (Sept. 17, 1979).’’ In
subsequent notices, EPA has addressed
how states can meet the RACT
requirements of the Act. Significantly,
RACT for a particular industry is
determined on a case-by-case basis,
considering issues of technological and
economic feasibility.
EPA provides States with guidance
concerning what types of controls could
constitute RACT for a given source
category through issuance of a CTG. The
recommendations in the CTG are based
on available data and information and
may not apply to a particular situation
based upon the circumstances. States
can follow the CTG and adopt State
regulations to implement the
recommendations contained therein, or
they can adopt alternative approaches.
In either event, States must submit their
RACT rules to EPA for review and
approval as part of the SIP process. EPA
will evaluate the rules and determine,
through notice and comment
rulemaking in the SIP process, whether
they meet the RACT requirements of the
Act and EPA’s regulations. To the extent
a State adopts any of the
recommendations in a CTG into its State
RACT rules, interested parties can raise
questions and objections about the
substance of the guidance and the
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appropriateness of the application of the
guidance to a particular situation during
the development of the State rules and
EPA’s SIP approval process.
We encourage States in developing
their RACT rules to consider carefully
the facts and circumstances of the
particular sources in their States
because, as noted above, RACT is
determined on a case-by-case basis,
considering issues of technological and
economic feasibility. For example, a
state may decide not to require 90
percent control efficiency at facilities
that are already well controlled, if the
additional emission reductions would
not be cost-effective. States may also
want to consider reactivity-based
approaches, as appropriate, in
developing their RACT regulations.5
Finally, if States consider requiring
more stringent VOC content limits than
those recommended in the draft CTGs,
states may also wish to consider
averaging, as appropriate. In general, the
RACT requirement is applied on a shortterm basis up to 24 hours.6 However,
EPA guidance permits averaging times
longer than 24 hours under certain
conditions.7 The EPA’s ‘‘Economic
Incentive Policy’’ 8 provides guidance
on use of long-term averages with regard
to RACT and generally provides for
averaging times of no greater than 30
days. Thus, if the appropriate
conditions are present, States may
consider the use of averaging in
conjunction with more stringent limits.
Because of the nature of averaging,
however, we would expect that any
State RACT Rules that allow for
averaging also include appropriate
recordkeeping and reporting
requirements.
By this action, we are making
available draft CTGs that cover three
product categories in Group III of the
CAA section 183(e) list. These CTGs are
guidance to the States and provide
recommendations only. A State can
develop its own strategy for what
5 ‘‘Interim Guidance on Control of Volatile
Organic Compounds in Ozone State
Implementation Plans,’’ 70 FR 54046 (September
13, 2005).
6 See, e.g., 52 FR at 45108, col. 2, ‘‘Compliance
Periods’’ (November 24, 1987). ‘‘VOC rules should
describe explicitly the compliance timeframe
associated with each emission limit (e.g.,
instantaneous or daily). However, where the rules
are silent on compliance time, EPA will interpret
it as instantaneous.’’
7 Memorandum from John O’Connor, Acting
Director of the Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards, January 20, 1984, ‘‘Averaging Times for
Compliance with VOC Emission Limits—SIP
Revision Policy.’’
8 ‘‘Improving Air Quality with Economic
Incentive Programs, January 2001,’’ available at
https://www.epa.gov/region07/programs/artd/air/
policy/search.htm.
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constitutes RACT for these three
product categories, and EPA will review
that strategy in the context of the SIP
process and determine whether it meets
the RACT requirements of the Act and
its implementing regulations.
Finally, CAA section 182(b)(2)
provides that a CTG issued after 1990
specify the date by which a State must
submit a SIP revision in response to the
CTG. In the draft CTGs at issue here,
EPA provides that States should submit
their SIP revisions within 1 year of the
date that the CTGs are finalized.
D. General Considerations in
Determining Whether a CTG Will Be
Substantially as Effective as a
Regulation
CAA Section 183(e)(3)(C) authorizes
EPA to issue a CTG in lieu of a
regulation for a category of consumer
and commercial products if a CTG ‘‘will
be substantially as effective as
regulations in reducing VOC emissions’’
in ozone nonattainment areas. The
statute does not specify how EPA is to
make this determination.
On July 13, 1999 (64 FR 37773), EPA
issued a final determination pursuant to
CAA section 183(e)(3)(C), concluding
that CTGs for wood furniture coatings,
aerospace coatings, and shipbuilding
and repair coatings were substantially as
effective as national regulations in
reducing emissions of VOC from these
products in areas that violate the
NAAQS for ozone. On October 5, 2006
(71 FR 58745), EPA issued a similar
final determination for flexible
packaging printing materials,
lithographic printing materials,
letterpress printing materials, industrial
cleaning solvents, and flat wood
paneling coatings. Recognizing that the
statute does not specify any criteria for
making a determination under CAA
section 183(e)(3)(C), EPA, in 1999 and
2006, considered several relevant
factors, including: (1) The product’s
distribution and place of use; (2) the
most effective entity to target to control
emissions—in other words, whether it is
more effective to achieve VOC
reductions at the point of manufacture
of the product or at the point of use of
the product; (3) consistency with other
VOC control strategies; and (4) estimates
of likely VOC emission reductions in
ozone nonattainment areas which
would result from the regulation or
CTG. EPA believes that these factors are
useful for evaluating whether the rule or
CTG approach would be best from the
perspective of implementation and
enforcement of an effective strategy to
achieve the intended VOC emission
reductions. As we consider other
product categories in the current and
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future phases of regulation under CAA
section 183(e), there may be other
factors that are relevant to the CAA
section 183(e)(3)(C) determination for
given product categories. EPA believes
that in making these determinations, no
single factor is dispositive. On the
contrary, for each product category, we
must weigh the factors and make our
determination based on the unique set
of facts and circumstances associated
with that product category. For
purposes of making the determination,
EPA analyzed the components of the
draft CTGs for the product categories at
issue and compared the draft CTGs to
the types of controls and emission
strategies possible through a regulation.
As we explained in 1999, it would be
unreasonable for EPA, in effect, to have
to complete both the full rulemaking
and full CTG development processes
before being able to make a
determination under CAA section
183(e)(3)(C) validly. EPA believes that it
is possible for the Agency to make a
determination between what a rule
might reasonably be expected to achieve
versus what a CTG might reasonably be
expected to achieve, without having to
complete the entire rulemaking and
CTG processes. To conclude otherwise
would result in unnecessary wasting of
limited time and resources by the
Agency and the stakeholders
participating in the processes.
Moreover, such an approach would be
directly contrary to CAA section
183(e)(3)(C), which authorizes EPA to
issue a CTG in lieu of a regulation if it
determines that the CTG ‘‘will be
substantially as effective as’’ a
regulation in reducing VOC emissions
in ozone nonattainment areas.
With regard to the three product
categories at issue here, EPA notes that
it does not have reliable quantitative
data that would enable it to conduct a
ton-by-ton comparison of the likely
emission reductions associated with a
national regulation versus a CTG.
Although we conducted such a
comparative analysis in 1999 for the
product categories of wood furniture
coatings, aerospace coatings and
shipbuilding and repair coatings, (64 FR
37773, July 13, 1999), such analysis is
not necessary for evaluating likely VOC
emission reductions, particularly,
where, as in our Group II action (71 FR
58745, October 5, 2006) and here, a CTG
can achieve significant emission
reductions from end-users of the
consumer and/or commercial products
at issue, which cannot be achieved
through regulation under CAA section
183(e). In addition, for the reasons
described below, a regulation governing
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the manufacturers and suppliers of
these products would be unlikely to
achieve the objective of reducing VOC
emissions from these products in ozone
nonattainment areas.
E. Proposed Determination
Based on the factors identified above
and the facts and circumstances
associated with each of the Group III
product categories, EPA proposes to
determine that CTGs for paper, film, and
foil coatings; metal furniture coatings;
and large appliance coatings will be
substantially as effective as national
regulations in reducing VOC emissions
from facilities located in ozone
nonattainment areas.
In each of the three product category
sections below, we provide a general
description of the industry, identify the
sources of VOC emissions associated
with the industry, summarize the
recommended control techniques in the
draft CTG and describe the impacts of
those techniques, and discuss the
considerations supporting our proposed
determination under CAA section
183(e)(3)(C) that a CTG will be
substantially as effective as a regulation
in reducing VOC emissions in ozone
nonattainment areas from the product
category at issue.
The specific subsections below that
address our proposed determination for
each product category are organized into
two parts, each of which addresses two
of the factors relevant to the CAA
section 183(e)(1)(C) determination. The
first part addresses whether it is more
effective to target the point of
manufacture of the product or the point
of use for purposes of reducing VOC
emissions and discusses whether our
proposed approach is consistent with
existing Federal, State and local VOC
reduction strategies. The second part
addresses the product’s distribution and
place of use and discusses the likely
VOC emission reductions associated
with a CTG, as compared to a
regulation.
Finally, we propose to find that these
three product categories are appropriate
for inclusion on the CAA section 183(e)
list in accordance with the factors and
criteria that EPA used to develop the
original list. See Consumer and
Commercial Products: Schedule for
Regulation, 60 FR 15264 (Mar. 23,
1995).
F. Availability of Documents
EPA has prepared draft CTG
documents covering the three consumer
and commercial products source
categories addressed in this action. Each
of the draft CTGs addresses, among
other things, RACT recommendations,
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cost impacts, and existing Federal, state
and local VOC control strategies. These
draft CTGs are available for public
comment and are contained in the
respective dockets listed in the
ADDRESSES section of this notice.
II. Paper, Film, and Foil Coatings
A. Industry Characterization
1. Source Category Description
This category of consumer and
commercial products includes the
coatings that are applied to paper, film,
and foil in manufacturing products for
the following industry sectors: Pressure
sensitive tapes and labels, photographic
film; industrial and decorative
laminates; and flexible packaging.9 The
category also includes coatings applied
during miscellaneous paper, film, and
foil surface coating operations for
several products including: corrugated
and solid fiber boxes; die-cut paper,
paperboard, and cardboard; converted
paper and paperboard, not elsewhere
classified; folding paperboard boxes,
including sanitary boxes; manifold
business forms and related products;
plastic aseptic packaging; and carbon
paper and inked ribbons. Paper, film,
and foil surface coating can be described
as a web coating process, which is a
process that applies a continuous layer
of coating material across the entire
width or any portion of the width of a
web substrate for any of the following
reasons: (1) To provide a covering,
finish, or functional or protective layer
to a substrate; (2) to saturate a substrate
for lamination; or (3) to provide
adhesion between two substrates for
lamination. The web coating operations
and emission control techniques do not
vary significantly among the sectors of
the paper, film, and foil industry.
2. Processes, Sources of VOC Emissions,
and Controls
The coatings and cleaning materials 10
used in paper, film, and foil surface
9 Coating performed on or in-line with any offset
lithographic, screen, letterpress, flexographic,
rotogravure, or digital printing press is not part of
the paper, film and foil coating category. The
application of inks, coatings and adhesives on or inline with rotogravure or flexographic printing
presses used in the production of flexible packaging
is addressed in the CTG for Flexible Package
Printing (EPA 453/R–06–003, September 2006). The
application of inks, coatings and adhesives on or inline with publication rotogravure printing presses is
addressed in the CTG for Graphic Arts: Rotogravure
and Flexography (EPA 450/2–78–033). The
application of inks, coatings and adhesives on or inline with offset lithographic or letterpress printing
presses is addressed in the CTG for Offset
Lithographic Printing and Letterpress Printing (EPA
453/R–06–002, September 2006).
10 In a previous notice, EPA identified specific
categories, including paper, film, and foil coating,
the cleaning operations of which would not be
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coating operations are sources of VOC
emissions. The coating line is the main
source of VOC emissions. The
remaining emissions are principally
from cleaning operations. VOC
emissions from surface preparation,
solvent handling and storage, and
waste/wastewater operations are small.
The following discussion describes the
sources of VOC from the coatings and
cleaning materials.
The VOC in coatings are emitted from
the coating line. In general, a coating
line consists of a series of one or more
unwind/feed stations; one or more
coating applicators; one or more flashoff areas (the area between two
consecutive coating applicators or
between a coating applicator and a
drying oven); one or more drying ovens;
and one or more rewind/cutting
stations. The majority, usually greater
than 90 percent, of the VOC in the
coatings volatilizes in the drying ovens.
A smaller amount of VOC in the
coatings volatilizes at the coating
applicator and flash-off area. The
amount of VOC emitted from coatings
varies depending on the type of coatings
being used. The types of coatings used
in the paper, film, and foil surface
coating industry include solvent-borne
and waterborne coatings, as well as
radiation-cure coatings, hot-melt
adhesives and other 100 percent solids
coatings.
Solvent-borne coatings are widely
used in the paper, film, and foil surface
coating industry. Solvent-borne coating
formulations typically range from 40 to
80 percent solvents by weight, as
supplied by the manufacturer. The
solvent-borne coatings may be diluted
by the users with additional solvents
prior to being used. The primary
solvents in solvent-borne coatings
include methanol, methyl ethyl ketone,
toluene, and xylene. A significant part
of the volatiles in waterborne coating is
water, although some VOC-containing
solvents may be used at up to 30 percent
of the volatiles. Most coating equipment
used for solvent-borne coatings can also
be used for waterborne coatings.
Radiation cure coatings, hot-melt
adhesives and other 100 percent solids
coatings such as wax coatings, wax
laminations, extrusion coatings,
extrusion laminations, and cold seal
coatings typically contain no solvent.
Accordingly, these coatings emit very
covered by EPA’s 2006 CTG for industrial cleaning
solvents (71 FR 44522, 44540 (2006)). In the notice,
EPA expressed its intention to address cleaning
operations associated with these categories in the
CTGs for these specified categories if the Agency
determines that a CTG is appropriate for the
respective categories.
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little VOC. More information on
coatings is provided in the draft CTG.
Common techniques to reduce
emissions from paper, film, and foil
coatings include the use of low-VOC
content coatings and the operation of
add-on control systems where low-VOC
content coatings cannot be used due to
performance requirements calling for
higher VOC coatings. An add-on control
system consists of a capture system and
a control device. The majority of VOC
emissions from paper, film and foil
coating occur in the drying oven. These
emissions can be ducted from the drying
oven directly to a control device. The
drying oven is therefore typically the
principal element of the capture system.
In addition, hoods, floor sweeps or
enclosures can be used to collect VOC
emissions that occur in the coating
application and flash-off areas, and
route them to a control device.
The most common add-on controls in
use at paper, film, and foil surface
coating facilities are thermal oxidizers
and carbon adsorbers, both of which
achieve greater than 90 percent control.
The design of the capture system and
the choice of the control device can
greatly contribute to the overall VOC
control efficiency, which is a
combination of both capture and control
efficiency. Please see the draft CTG for
further detailed descriptions of add-on
controls and capture systems that we
reviewed in developing the draft CTG.
As previously mentioned, another
source of VOC emissions from paper,
film, and foil surface coating operations
is cleaning materials. Cleaning materials
are used for several purposes, including
washing equipment, removing residues
from coating applicators, and cleaning
spray guns. These materials are
typically mixtures of organic solvents
and represent less than 2 percent of the
VOC emissions from paper, film, and
foil surface coating operations. Work
practices are widely used throughout
the paper, film, and foil surface coating
industry as a means of reducing VOC
emissions from the cleaning materials
during cleaning operations. These
measures include covering cleaning
material mixing tanks; storing cleaning
solvents and solvent-soaked rags and
wipes in closed containers; and cleaning
spray guns in an enclosed system.
Another means of reducing VOC
emission from paper, film, and foil
cleaning materials is the use of low-VOC
content or low vapor pressure cleaning
materials. Within the industry, there are
controlled cleaning operations where
cleaning is automated, enclosed and
vented to a control device. Use of
recycled solvents for cleaning is also
typical in the industry.
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3. Existing Federal, State and Local VOC
Control Strategies
There are three previous EPA actions
that affect paper, film, and foil surface
coating operations. In 1977, EPA issued
a CTG document entitled ‘‘Control of
Volatile Organic Emissions from
Existing Stationary Sources—Volume II:
Surface Coating of Cans, Coils, Paper,
Fabrics, Automobiles, and Light-Duty
Trucks’’ (EPA–450/2–77–008) (1977
CTG). The 1977 CTG provided RACT
recommendations for controlling VOC
emissions from paper coating and
fabric 11 coating operations. The 1977
CTG recommended RACT for paper
coating as 0.35 kilogram/liter (kg/l) (2.9
pound/gallon (lb/gal)) of coating,
excluding water and exempt
compounds, as applied. These
recommended limits were based on the
use of conventional solvent-borne
coatings and oxidation of the dryer oven
exhaust which achieved an overall VOC
control efficiency of 81 percent. These
recommended limits were expressed in
terms of a compliant coating’s VOC
content to encourage the development
and use of low-VOC content coatings.
Equivalent solids-based limits were
presented in ‘‘A Guideline for Surface
Coating Calculations’’ (EPA–340/1–86–
016). For paper coating, the equivalent
limit was 0.58 kg/l (4.8 lb/gal) of solids.
These equivalent limits were calculated
using an assumed VOC density of 0.88
kg/l (7.36 lb/gal). This assumed VOC
density is the same as that used in
calculating the limits recommended in
the 1977 CTG.
In 1983, EPA promulgated new source
performance standards (NSPS) for
pressure sensitive tape and label surface
coating operations (40 CFR part 60
subpart RR).12 The 1983 NSPS differs
from the 1977 CTG in that it only
applies to pressure sensitive tape and
label surface coating lines. The 1983
NSPS emission limits do not apply to
pressure sensitive tape and label surface
coating operations that input 45
megagrams/year (Mg/yr) (50 tons per
year (tpy)) or less VOC into the coating
process (other requirements such as
recordkeeping and reporting do apply).
The 1983 NSPS requires a 90 percent
reduction of VOC emission.
Alternatively it establishes an emission
limit of 0.20 kg VOC/kg (0.20 lb VOC/
lb) solids applied based on VOC
emission reduction of 90 percent.
11 Fabric coating operations for use in pressure
sensitive tape and abrasive materials are included
under paper, film, and foil surface coating.
12 The 1983 NSPS applies to sources that
commenced construction, reconstruction, or
modification after December 30, 1980.
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In 2002, EPA promulgated the
National Emission Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP):
Paper and Other Web Coating (POWC),
40 CFR part 63 subpart JJJJ, which
applies to paper, film, and foil surface
coating as well as other coating
operations. The 2002 NESHAP
addresses organic hazardous air
pollutant (HAP) emissions, including
VOC HAP emissions, from all web
coating lines at a paper, film, and foil
surface coating facility.
The 2002 NESHAP has different
emission limitations for sources that
commenced construction or
reconstruction on or before September
13, 2000 (existing sources), and sources
that commenced construction or
reconstruction after September 13, 2000
(new sources). The 2002 NESHAP
emission limits for existing sources and
new sources are based on overall HAP
control efficiencies of 95 percent and 98
percent, respectively (65 FR 55334).
The 1977 CTG, the 1983 NSPS, and
the 2002 NESHAP are further discussed
in the current draft CTG document.
In addition to the EPA actions
mentioned above, at least 44 State and
several local jurisdictions have
regulations that affect VOC emissions
from paper, film, and foil surface
coating. Fourteen local jurisdictions in
California have generic surface coating
rules. These generic surface coating
rules regulate all machinery with the
potential to emit organic compounds.
All 44 of the States and 6 of the
California jurisdictions have regulations
that address all or part of the paper,
film, and foil surface coating industry.
The regulations in these State and local
jurisdictions cover the coating lines.
Generally, these regulations establish
emission limits and allow compliance
with the limits to be demonstrated by
using low-VOC content coatings or addon control systems in conjunction with
higher-VOC content coatings.
Almost all of the jurisdictions that
specifically address all or part of the
paper, film, and foil surface coating
industry have adopted the
recommended VOC emission limits in
the 1977 CTG. However, there are
fourteen jurisdictions that have more
stringent requirements than the 1977
CTG. These jurisdictions allow
compliance either using compliant
coatings, or by using an add-on control
system. Seven jurisdictions have VOC
emission limits that are more stringent
than the 1977 CTG, five in California
and two in Illinois. The California
jurisdictions limit VOC emissions to 265
g/l (2.2 lb/gal) of coating, excluding
water and exempt compounds, as
applied. The two jurisdictions in Illinois
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limit VOC emissions to 0.28 kg/l (2.3 lb/
gal) of coating, excluding water and
exempt compounds, as applied. As an
alternative to the VOC emission limits
the California and Illinois jurisdictions
allow facilities to install capture
systems and control devices to reduce
VOC emissions from these coating
operations. The required overall
emission reduction, including capture
and control efficiency, ranges from 55
percent to 90 percent. Specifically, the
San Diego County Air Pollution Control
District (San Diego) and the Ventura
County Air Pollution Control District
(Ventura) both require an overall control
efficiency of 90 percent. Finally, there
are seven jurisdictions that have VOC
emission limits that are the same as the
1977 CTG. However, these jurisdictions
require 95 percent emission reduction
as an alternative to the VOC emission
limit. The 95 percent overall control
efficiency is the most stringent and
likely can only be met with a permanent
total enclosure that achieves 100
percent capture efficiency. A detailed
summary of the State and local
regulations is presented in the draft
CTG.
Several jurisdictions in California
have requirements to regulate the VOC
content of cleaning materials used in the
paper, film and foil surface coating
industry. These regulations are aimed at
reducing VOC emissions from cleaning
materials by combining work practice
standards with limits on the VOC
content or composite vapor pressure of
the solvent being used. In some cases,
the jurisdictions allow the use of addon controls as an alternative to the VOC
content/vapor pressure limits. The
different air pollution control
authorities in California have
established similar work practice
standards. However, the cleaning
material VOC content/vapor pressure
limits vary by jurisdiction, as do the
overall control efficiency required when
add-on controls are used as an
alternative.
There are 10 States that have cleaning
material regulations that apply to paper,
film, and foil surface coating operations.
Of these, 9 States do not limit the VOC
content/vapor pressure of cleaning
materials. Instead, they have established
equipment standards, work practices,
and/or recordkeeping requirements.
There is one State that requires work
practices as well as limiting the vapor
pressure of the cleaning materials. The
cleaning material regulations are
summarized in detail in the draft CTG.
B. Recommended Control Techniques
The draft CTG recommends certain
control techniques for reducing VOC
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emissions from paper, film, and foil
coatings and cleaning materials. As
explained in the draft CTG, we are
recommending these control options for
facilities whose paper, film, and foil
surface coating operations emit 6.8 kg
VOC/day (15 lb VOC/day or 3 tons
VOC/year) or more before the
consideration of control. We do not
recommend these control approaches
for facilities that emit below this level
because of the very small VOC emission
reductions that can be achieved. The
recommended threshold level is
equivalent to the evaporation of
approximately 2 gallons of solvent per
day. Such a level is considered to be an
incidental level of solvent usage that
could be expected even in facilities that
use very low-VOC content coatings,
such as ultraviolet (UV) cure coatings.
Furthermore, based on the 2002 NEI
data and the 2004 ozone nonattainment
designations, facilities emitting below
the recommended threshold level
collectively emit less than 2 percent of
the total reported VOC emissions from
paper, film, and foil coating facilities in
ozone nonattainment areas. For these
reasons, we did not extend our
recommendations in the draft CTG to
these low emitting facilities. For
purposes of determining whether a
facility meets the above recommended
threshold, aggregate emissions from all
paper, film, and foil surface coating
operations and related cleaning
activities at a given facility are included.
This recommended threshold is also
consistent with our recommendations in
many previous CTGs.
We nevertheless solicit comment on
the above proposed applicability
threshold of the coating and cleaning
recommendations in the draft CTG for
paper, film, and foil coating facilities.
We specifically solicit comment on
whether there are small operations
emitting at or immediately above the
proposed threshold and how many of
these facilities exist. If information is
provided during the comment period
indicating that there are many small
operations emitting at and/or
immediately above the proposed
threshold, we may consider modifying
the recommended threshold. We
specifically solicit comment on whether
a slightly higher threshold of 12.3 kg
VOC/day (27 lb VOC/day or 5 tons
VOC/year) would be more appropriate
for this category, and we solicit data and
analyses supporting such a threshold.
Coating performed on or in-line with
any offset lithographic, screen,
letterpress, flexographic, rotogravure, or
digital printing press is not subject to
the recommendations in the draft CTG.
Printing, coating and laminating
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1. Coatings
Coatings are defined in the draft CTG
as material applied onto or impregnated
into a substrate for decorative,
protective, or functional purposes. Such
materials include, but are not limited to,
solvent-borne coatings, waterborne
coatings, adhesives, wax coatings, wax
laminations, extrusion coatings,
extrusion laminations, 100 percent solid
adhesives, UV cured coatings, electron
beam cured coatings, hot melt coatings,
and cold seal coatings. Materials used to
form unsupported substrates, such as
calendaring of vinyl, blown film, cast
film, extruded film, and co-extruded
film, are not considered coatings.
In the draft CTG, we recommend an
overall VOC control efficiency of 90
percent for each paper, film, and foil
surface coating line.13 This emission
reduction is based on the San Diego and
Ventura levels of control, as well as the
1983 NSPS. As an alternative, we
recommend VOC content based
emission limits that are equivalent to 90
percent overall control. Specifically, we
recommend the ‘‘as-applied’’ VOC
limits of 0.40 kg VOC/kg (0.40 lb VOC/
lb) solids applied and 0.08 kg VOC/kg
(0.08 lb VOC/lb) coating for this product
category except for pressure sensitive
tape and label surface coating lines. The
derivation of these limits is discussed in
detail in the draft CTG.
For pressure sensitive tape and label
surface coating lines, we recommend
0.20 kg VOC/kg (0.20 lb VOC/lb) solids
applied, which is based on 90 percent
control efficiency. We also recommend
an equivalent value of 0.067 kg VOC/kg
(0.067 lb VOC/lb) coating. The
development of the recommended
limitations is presented in more detail
in the draft CTG.
2. Cleaning Materials
The draft CTG recommends work
practices to reduce VOC emissions from
cleaning materials used in paper, film,
and foil surface coating operations.
Specifically, we recommend the
following work practices: (1) Store all
VOC-containing cleaning materials and
used shop towels in closed containers;
(2) ensure that mixing and storage
containers used for VOC-containing
cleaning materials are kept closed at all
times except when depositing or
removing these materials; (3) minimize
13 We are defining a paper, film, and foil surface
coating line as a series of coating applicator(s),
flash-off area(s), and any associated curing/drying
equipment between one or more an unwind (or
feed) stations and one or more rewind (or cutting)
stations.
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spills of VOC-containing cleaning
materials; (4) convey VOC-containing
cleaning materials from one location to
another in closed containers or pipes;
and (5) minimize VOC emissions from
cleaning of storage, mixing, and
conveying equipment.
C. Impacts of Recommended Control
Techniques
Based on the 2002 NEI database, we
estimate that there are a total of 474
paper, film, and foil surface coating
facilities located in ozone
nonattainment areas (using April 2004
designations). As previously mentioned,
we are recommending the control
options described in this draft CTG
apply to facilities in ozone
nonattainment areas that emit 6.8 kg/
day (15 lb/day) or more of VOC. Based
on VOC emissions data in the 2002 NEI
database, 251 of the facilities in ozone
nonattainment areas emit VOC at or
above this level.
Although there is limited cost
information available, we believe that
the cost estimates and other related
studies developed for the 2002 NESHAP
are appropriate for estimating the cost
impact of our recommendations in the
draft CTG for the following reasons. The
recommended level of control in the
draft CTG covers the same processes as
the 2002 NESHAP (i.e., all coating
applicators and any associated drying/
curing equipment between the unwind/
feed station and the rewind/cutting
station). In addition, the annual costs
estimates developed for the 2002
NESHAP were based on the use of
thermal oxidizers to control HAP
emissions and these oxidizers achieve
the same level of control for VOC.
Finally, both the 2002 NESHAP
emission limits and the limits
recommended in the draft CTG can be
met by the same options (i.e., use of
low-VOC content coatings or add-on
control systems when high-VOC content
coatings are used).
According to studies performed for
the development of the 2002 NESHAP,
47 percent of the existing facilities
would be subject to the 2002 NESHAP.
To estimate the costs associated with
the add-on control recommendation in
the draft CTG, we assumed that all
facilities subject to the NESHAP (i.e., 47
percent of the facilities in the 2002 NEI
database (119 facilities)) are currently in
compliance with the NESHAP. We
assume that facilities already in
compliance with the 2002 NESHAP
would not be required to upgrade or
install capture and/or thermal oxidizers
to achieve the emission reduction
recommended in the draft CTG and
therefore would have no additional
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annual costs associated with the draft
CTG.
We estimated that the nationwide
emission reduction would be 20,000
Mg/yr (22,000 tpy) and nationwide total
annual costs were $26 million per year,
resulting in cost effectiveness of $1,320
per Mg ($1,200 per ton). These costs
represent worst-case costs, using
thermal oxidizers. Other control options
(i.e., carbon adsorbers or solvent
recovery systems) can be expected to
have lower costs.
We believe that our work practice
recommendations in the draft CTG will
result in a net cost savings.
Implementing work practices reduce the
amount cleaning materials used by
reducing the amount that evaporates
and is wasted.
D. Considerations in Determining
Whether a CTG Will Be Substantially as
Effective as a Regulation
In determining whether to issue a
national rule or a CTG for the paper,
film, and foil coatings product category
under CAA section 183(e)(3)(C), we
analyzed the four factors identified in
Section I.D of this notice in light of the
specific facts and circumstances
associated with this product category.
Based on that analysis, we propose to
determine that a CTG will be
substantially as effective as a rule in
achieving VOC emission reductions in
ozone nonattainment areas from paper,
film, and foil surface coating operations.
As noted above, this section is
divided into two parts, each of which
addresses two of the factors relevant to
the CAA section 183(e)(1)(C)
determination. In the first part, we
discuss our belief that the most effective
means of achieving VOC emission
reductions in this category is through
controls at the point of use of the
product (i.e., through controls on the
use of coatings at facilities that apply
surface coatings to paper, film, and foil
products), and this can only be
accomplished through a CTG. We
further explain that the approaches in
the draft CTG are consistent with
existing effective Federal, State and
local VOC control strategies. In the
second part, we discuss how the
distribution and place of use of the
products in this category also support
the use of a CTG. We also discuss the
likely VOC emission reductions
associated with a CTG, as compared to
a regulation. We further explain that
there are control approaches for this
category that result in significant VOC
emission reductions and that such
reductions could only be obtained by
controlling the use of the products
through a CTG. Such reductions could
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not be obtained through a regulation
under CAA section 183(e) because the
controls affect the end-user, which
cannot be a regulated entity under CAA
section 183(e)(1)(C). For these reasons,
which are described more fully below,
we believe that a CTG will achieve
greater VOC emission reductions than a
rule for this category.
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1. The Most Effective Entity To Target
for VOC Reductions and Consistency
With State and Local VOC Strategies
To evaluate the most effective entity
to target for VOC reductions, it is
important to first identify the primary
sources of VOC emissions. There are
two main sources of VOC emissions
from paper, film, and foil surface
coating operations: (1) Evaporation of
VOC from coatings; and (2) evaporation
of VOC from cleaning materials. We
address each of these sources of VOC
emissions in turn below as we discuss
the CTG versus regulation approach.
a. Coatings
A national rule could contain limits
for the as-sold VOC content of paper,
film, and foil coatings. However, given
the nature of the paper, film, and foil
surface coating process, we believe that
such a rule would result in little
reduction in VOC emissions.
Although significant amounts of lowVOC content coatings are currently
being used for paper, film, and foil
surface coating, they cannot replace the
traditional solvent-borne coatings in
some instances. Performance
specifications and other functional
characteristics determine the types of
coatings that can be used. For example,
hot-melt coatings are virtually solvent
free, but cannot be used on film
substrates that are sensitive to heat
because the substrate could melt during
the coating process. Accordingly, a
national rule that requires low VOC
content in paper, film, and foil coatings
would nevertheless need to include
higher VOC limits to allow for the use
of solvent-borne materials when
necessary and to maintain these
materials’ intended effect. Because such
a rule would merely codify what the
paper, film, and foil coating facilities are
already doing, we do not expect that it
would result in significant VOC
reductions from these facilities.
Furthermore, the effect of a national
rule setting low VOC content limits for
paper, film, and foil coatings could be
easily subverted because it does not
guarantee that only those low-VOC
content coating materials will be used
for paper, film, and foil surface coating.
Many coatings used in the paper, film,
and foil surface coating industry are not
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specifically identified by the supplier as
paper, film, and foil coatings. Therefore,
these facilities can purchase and use
coating materials not specified as paper,
film, and foil coatings, which would
effectively nullify the reformulation
actions of the manufacturers and
suppliers, resulting in no net change in
VOC emissions in ozone nonattainment
areas.
Alternatively, a national rule could
set low VOC content limits for all
coatings sold, regardless of specified
end use, thus ensuring that only lowVOC coatings are available for paper,
film, and foil surface coatings. Such an
approach would be unreasonable and
impractical. Coatings are sold for
multiple different commercial and
industrial purposes. Reducing the VOC
content of all coatings would impact
uses of these materials in operations
other than paper, film, and foil surface
coating and may inadvertently preclude
the use of higher VOC containing
materials in many important, legitimate
contexts.
By contrast, a CTG can reach the end
users of the coating materials and can
therefore implement the control
measures that are more likely to achieve
the objective of reducing VOC emissions
from this product category in ozone
nonattainment areas. As previously
discussed, the draft CTG recommends
two VOC control options for this
product category: (1) Emission limits for
paper, film, and foil surface coating
operations that can be achieved through
the use of low-VOC content coatings;
and (2) a 90 percent control efficiency
for facilities that choose to use add-on
controls in conjunction with high-VOC
content coatings. The draft CTG also
recommends work practices to reduce
VOC emissions from cleaning materials.
The use of low-VOC content coatings,
which are available for paper, film, and
foil surface coating, can greatly reduce
VOC emissions. Alternatively, control
devices, such as oxidizers or carbon
adsorbers, can achieve a significant
reduction in VOC emissions from highVOC content materials during surface
coating operations. The recommended
work practices have also been shown to
be effective VOC reduction measures.
Given the significant reductions
achievable through these recommended
VOC control measures, the most
effective entity to address VOC
emissions associated with paper, film,
and foil coatings is the facility using the
coating.
These control measures are consistent
with existing Federal, State and local
VOC control strategies applicable to
paper, film, and foil surface coating. As
mentioned above, previous EPA actions
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and existing State and local regulations
applicable to paper, film, and foil
surface coating similarly call for VOC
emission reduction 14 either through the
use of control devices in conjunction
with high-VOC content coatings or the
use of equivalent low-VOC content
coatings.
We cannot issue a national rule
directly requiring paper, film, and foil
surface coating facilities to use low-VOC
content coating materials or control
devices because, pursuant to CAA
section 183(e)(1)(C) and (e)(3)(A), the
regulated entities subject to a national
rule would be the coating manufacturers
and suppliers, not the paper, film, and
foil surface coating facilities. By
contrast, a CTG can reach these end
users of paper, film, and foil coatings,
and can therefore implement the
measures by the users that are identified
above as more likely to achieve the
intended VOC emission reduction goal.
Accordingly, we are including these
control measures in the draft CTG that
applies to paper, film, and foil surface
coating facilities as the end users of
these materials.
b. Cleaning Materials
There are two primary means to
control VOC emissions associated with
the cleaning materials used in paper,
film, and foil surface coating: (1)
Limiting the VOC content or vapor
pressure of the cleaning materials, and
(2) implementing work practices
governing the use of the cleaning
materials. A national rule requiring that
manufacturers of cleaning materials for
paper, film, and foil coating operations
provide low-VOC content or low vapor
pressure (i.e., replace VOC that have a
high vapor pressure with low vapor
pressure VOC) cleaning materials would
suffer from the same deficiencies noted
above with regard to the coatings.
Specifically, nothing in a national rule
that specifically regulates manufacturers
and suppliers of cleaning materials
specified for use in paper, film, and foil
surface coating operations would
preclude the industry from purchasing
bulk solvents or other multipurpose
cleaning materials from other vendors.
The general availability of bulk solvents
or multipurpose cleaning materials from
vendors that would not be subject to
such regulation would directly
undermine the effectiveness of such a
national regulation.
A national rule also could, in theory,
limit the VOC content or vapor pressure
of all cleaning materials and all solvents
sold regardless of specified end use,
14 The 2002 NESHAP requires reduction of
organic HAP, over 99 percent of which are VOC.
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which would ensure that only low-VOC
content or low vapor pressure cleaning
materials are available for cleaning
operations associated with paper, film,
and foil surface coating. As with a lowVOC content limit on coatings, setting a
low-VOC content or low vapor pressure
limit for all cleaning materials and
solvents would be unreasonable and
impractical. Cleaning materials and
solvents are sold for multiple different
commercial and industrial purposes.
Replacing highly volatile cleaning
materials with less volatile cleaning
materials and solvents would impact
uses of these materials other than
cleaning operations at paper, film, and
foil surface coating facilities and may
inadvertently preclude the use of such
materials in many important, legitimate
contexts.
The more effective approach for
reducing VOC emissions from cleaning
materials used by paper, film, and foil
surface coaters is to control the use of
the cleaning materials through work
practices. The draft CTG recommends
that paper, film, and foil surface coating
facilities implement work practices to
reduce VOC emissions from cleaning
materials during paper, film, and foil
surface coating operations. An example
of an effective work practice is keeping
solvents and used shop towels in closed
containers. This measure alone results
in significant reduction of VOC
emissions from cleaning materials.
Provided immediately below are
examples of other effective work
practices that are being required by
State and local regulations. Given the
significant VOC reductions achievable
through implementation of work
practices, we conclude that the most
effective entity to address VOC
emissions from cleaning materials used
in paper, film, and foil surface coating
operations is the facility using the
cleaning materials during surface
coating operations.
This recommendation is consistent
with measures required by State and
local jurisdictions for reducing VOC
emissions from cleaning materials used
in paper, film, and foil surface coating
operations. In addition to keeping
solvents and shop towels in closed
containers, State and local requirements
include: Minimizing spills of VOCcontaining cleaning materials; cleaning
up spills immediately; and conveying
any VOC-containing cleaning materials
in closed containers or pipes. Work
practices have proven to be effective in
reducing VOC emissions.
We cannot issue a national rule
requiring such work practices for paper,
film, and foil surface coating facilities
because, pursuant to CAA section
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183(e)(1)(C) and (e)(3)(A), the regulated
entities subject to a national rule would
be the cleaning materials manufactures
and suppliers and not the paper, film,
and foil surface coating facilities.
Accordingly, we are including these
work practices in the draft CTG that
applies to these facilities as the end
users of the cleaning materials.
Based on the nature of the paper, film,
and foil surface coating process, the
sources of significant VOC emissions
from this process, and the available
strategies for reducing such emissions,
the most effective means of achieving
VOC emission reductions from this
product category is through controls at
the point of use of the products (i.e.,
through controls on surface coating
facilities), and this can only be
accomplished through a CTG. The
approaches described in the draft CTG
are also consistent with effective State
and local VOC control strategies. These
two factors alone demonstrate that a
CTG will be substantially as effective as
a national regulation.
2. The Product’s Distribution and Place
of Use and Likely VOC Emission
Reductions Associated With a CTG
Versus a Regulation
The factors described in the above
section, taken by themselves, weigh
heavily in favor of the CTG approach.
The other two factors relevant to the
CAA section 183(e)(3)(C) determination
only further confirm that a CTG will be
substantially as effective as a national
regulation for paper, film, and foil
coatings and cleaning materials.
First, paper, film, and foil coatings
and associated cleaning materials are
used at commercial facilities in specific,
identifiable locations. Specifically, these
materials are used in commercial
facilities that coat paper, film, and foil
products, as described in Section II.A.
This stands in contrast to other
consumer products, such as
architectural coatings, that are widely
distributed and used by innumerable
small users (e.g., individual consumers
in the general public). Because the VOC
emissions are occurring at commercial
manufacturing facilities,
implementation and enforcement of
controls concerning the use of these
products are feasible. Therefore, the
nature of these products’ place of use
further counsels in favor of the CTG
approach.
Second, a CTG will achieve greater
emission reduction than a national rule
for each source of VOC emissions from
paper, film, and foil surface coating and
associated cleaning materials. For the
reasons described above, we believe that
a national rule limiting the VOC content
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in coatings and cleaning materials used
in paper, film, and foil surface coating
operations would result in little VOC
emission reduction. By contrast, a CTG
can achieve significant VOC emission
reductions because it can provide for
the highly effective emission control
strategies described above that are
applicable to the end-users of the
coatings and cleaning materials at
paper, film, and foil surface coating
facilities. Specifically, this draft CTG
can provide for the use of control
devices in conjunction with high VOC
content coatings and work practices
associated with cleaning materials.
These significant VOC reductions could
not be obtained through a national
regulation, because they require the
implementation of measures by the enduser. In addition, as previously
explained, strategies that arguably could
be implemented through rulemaking,
such as a limit on VOC content in
coatings and cleaning materials, are far
more effective if implemented directly
at the point of use of the product. For
the reasons stated above it is more
effective to control the VOC content of
coatings through a CTG than through a
national regulation.
Furthermore, the number of paper,
film, and foil surface coating facilities
affected by our recommendations in this
draft CTG, as compared to the total
number of such facilities in ozone
nonattainment areas, does not change
our conclusion that the CTG would be
more effective than a rule in controlling
VOC emissions for this product
category. As previously mentioned, we
recommend the control measures
described in the draft CTG for paper,
film, and foil surface coating facilities
that emit 6.8 kg/day (15 lb/day) or more
VOC. Based on the April 2004 ozone
nonattainment designations, we
estimate that 251 of the 474 paper, film,
and foil surface coating facilities located
in ozone nonattainment areas emit 6.8
kg/day (15 lb/day) or more and are
therefore addressed by our
recommendations in the draft CTG.
There are 223 paper, film, and foil
surface coating facilities that would not
be covered by the recommendations in
the draft CTG. According to the 2002
NEI database, these 223 facilities
collectively emitted less than 150 Mg/yr
(170 tpy), which is less than 2 percent
of the total VOC reported emissions (an
average of 0.68 Mg/yr (0.75 tpy) per
facility) in ozone nonattainment areas.
The CTG thus addresses 98 percent of
the VOC emissions from these paper,
film, and foil surface coating facilities in
ozone nonattainment areas, which
further supports our conclusion that a
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CTG is more likely to achieve the
intended VOC emission reduction goal
for this product category than a national
rule.
Upon considering the above factors in
light of the facts and circumstances
associated with this product category,
we propose to determine that a CTG for
paper, film, and foil coatings and
cleaning materials will be substantially
as effective as a national regulation.
III. Metal Furniture Coatings
A. Industry Characterization
1. Source Category Description
This category of consumer and
commercial products includes the
coatings that are applied to metal
furniture surfaces at facilities that
manufacture metal furniture. Metal
furniture includes household, office,
institutional, laboratory, hospital, public
building, restaurant, barber and beauty
shop, and dental furniture, as well as
components of these products. Metal
furniture also includes office and store
fixtures, partitions, shelving, lockers,
lamps and lighting fixtures, and
wastebaskets. Metal furniture coatings
include paints and adhesives, and are
typically applied without a primer.
Higher solids and powder coatings are
used extensively in the metal furniture
industry. Metal furniture coatings
provide a covering, finish, or functional
or protective layer, and also provide a
decorative finish to metal furniture.
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2. Processes, Sources of VOC Emissions,
and Controls
The VOC emissions from metal
furniture surface coating operations are
a result of evaporation of the VOC
contained in many of the coatings and
cleaning materials 15 used in these
operations. The primary VOC emissions
from metal furniture coatings occur
during coating application, flash-off,
and coating drying/curing. The
remaining emissions are primarily from
mixing and thinning of the coatings, and
evaporation of the VOC contained in the
cleaning materials during cleaning
activities, such as spray gun cleaning,
paint line flushing, rework operations,
and touchup cleaning at final assembly.
VOC emissions from surface preparation
(where metal furniture components and
products are treated and/or cleaned
15 In a previous notice, EPA identified specific
categories, including metal furniture coating, the
cleaning operations of which would not be covered
by EPA’s 2006 CTG for industrial cleaning solvents
(71 FR 44522 and 44540, October 5, 2006). In the
notice, EPA expressed its intention to address
cleaning operations associated with these categories
in the CTGs for these specified categories if the
Agency determines that a CTG is appropriate for the
respective categories.
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prior to coating application), coating
storage and handling, and waste/
wastewater operations (i.e., handling
waste/wastewater that may contain
residues from both coatings and
cleaning materials) are small.
As previously mentioned, some VOC
emissions occur during mixing and
thinning operations. These VOC
emissions occur from displacement of
VOC-laden air in containers used to mix
coatings before coating application. The
displacement of VOC-laden air can
occur during the filling of containers. It
can also be caused by changes in
temperature or barometric pressure, or
by agitation during mixing.
The majority of VOC emissions occur
from evaporation of solvents during
coating application. The transfer
efficiency (the percent of coating solids
deposited on the metal furniture
component or product) of a coating
application method affects the amount
of VOC emissions during coating
application. The more efficient a coating
application method is in transferring
coatings to the metal furniture
component or product, the lower the
volume of coatings (and therefore
solvents) needed per given amount of
production, thus resulting in lower VOC
emissions.
The coatings used in the metal
furniture surface coating industry may
be in the form of a liquid or powder,
and may be applied by means of spray
or dip coating. Conventional air
atomized spray application systems
utilize higher atomizing air pressure and
typically have transfer efficiencies
ranging between 25 and 40 percent. Dip
coating is the immersion of metal
furniture components or products into a
coating bath and is typically used on
parts that do not require high quality
appearance. The transfer efficiency of a
dip coater is very high (approximately
90 percent); however, some VOC is
emitted from the liquid coating bath due
to its large exposed surface area.
Most spray applied coatings are
electrostatically applied. In electrostatic
coating, the presence of an electrostatic
field creates an electrical attraction
between the paint, which is positively
charged, and the grounded metal
furniture component or product and
enhances the amount of coating
deposited on the surface. This coating
method is more efficient than
conventional air atomized spray, with
transfer efficiency typically ranging
from 60 to 90 percent.
Other coatings application methods
used in the metal furniture surface
coating industry include flow coating,
roll coating, high volume/low pressure
(HVLP) spray, electrocoating,
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autophoretic coating, and application of
coatings by hand. These coating
methods are described in more detail in
the draft CTG.
The coated metal furniture
components and products are usually
baked or cured in heated drying ovens,
but some are air dried. For liquid spray
and dip coating operations, the coated
components or products are typically
first moved through a flash-off area after
the coating application operation. The
flash-off area, which lies between the
coating application area and the oven,
allows solvents in the wet coating film
to evaporate slowly, thus avoiding
bubbling of the coating while it is curing
in the oven. The amount of VOC emitted
from the flash-off area depends on the
type of coating used, the speed of the
coating line (i.e., how quickly the
component or product moves through
the flash-off area), and the distance
between the application area and bake
oven.
After the flash-off area, the metal
furniture components or products are
usually cured or dried. For powder
coatings, the curing/drying step melts
the powder and forms a continuous
coating on the component or product.
For liquid coatings, this step removes
any remaining volatiles from the
coating. The cured coatings provide the
desired decorative and/or protective
characteristics. The VOC emissions
during the curing/drying process result
from the evaporation of the remaining
solvents in the dryer.
Until the late 1970’s, conventional
solvent-borne coatings were used in the
metal furniture surface coating industry.
Since then, the industry has steadily
moved towards alternative coating
formulations that eliminate or reduce
the amount of solvent in the
formulations, thus reducing VOC
emissions per unit amount of coating
solids used.
Currently the metal furniture surface
coating industry uses primarily higher
solids solvent-borne coatings and
powder coatings and applies them by
electrostatic spraying. This combination
of coating type and application method
is an effective measure for reducing
VOC emissions. Not only are VOC
emissions reduced by using coatings
with low VOC content, the use of an
application method with a high transfer
efficiency, such as electrostatic
spraying, lowers the volume of coatings
needed per given amount of production,
thus further reducing the amount of
VOC emitted during the coating
application.
Other alternative coatings include
waterborne coatings and UV cured
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coatings. These coatings are described
in more detail in the CTG.
The most common approach to reduce
emission from metal furniture coating
operations is to use low-VOC content
coatings, including powder coatings,
higher solids solvent-borne coatings,
and UV cured coatings. Add-on controls
may also be used to reduce VOC
emissions from metal furniture coating
operations. The majority of VOC
emissions from spray coating operations
occur in the spray booth. The volume of
air exhausted from a spray booth is
typically high and the VOC
concentration in spray booth exhaust is
typically low. The cost of controlling
VOC in spray booth exhaust is therefore
greater than the cost of using low-VOC
content coatings. The wide availability
and lower cost of low-VOC content
coatings makes them a more attractive
option than add-on controls. For those
situations where an add-on control
device is used, thermal oxidation and
carbon adsorption are most widely used.
Please see the draft CTG for a detailed
discussion of these and other available
control devices.
To control VOC emissions from
containers used to store VOC-containing
solvents or to mix coatings containing
VOC solvents, work practices (e.g.,
using closed storage containers) are
used throughout the metal furniture
surface coating industry.
As previously mentioned, another
source of VOC emissions from metal
furniture surface coating is cleaning
materials. The VOC are emitted when
solvents evaporate from the cleaning
materials. Cleaning materials are used
for several purposes, including the
removal of coating residue or other
unwanted materials from equipment
related to the coating operations, as well
as the cleaning of spray guns, transfer
lines (e.g., tubing or piping), tanks, and
the interior of spray booths. These
cleaning materials are typically
mixtures of organic solvents. Work
practices are widely used throughout
the metal furniture surface coating
industry as a means of reducing VOC
emissions from these types of cleaning
operations. These measures include
covering mixing tanks, storing solvents
and solvent soaked rags and wipes in
closed containers, and cleaning spray
guns in an enclosed system. Another
means of reducing VOC emissions from
cleaning operations associated with
surface coating operations is the use of
low-VOC content or low vapor pressure
cleaning materials. However, little
information is available regarding the
effectiveness of the use of these types of
cleaning materials to reduce VOC
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emissions in the metal furniture surface
coating industry.
3. Existing Federal, State, and Local
VOC Control Strategies
There are three previous EPA actions
that affect metal furniture surface
coating operations. In 1977, EPA issued
a CTG document entitled ‘‘Control of
Volatile Organic Emissions from
Existing Stationary Sources Volume III:
Surface Coating of Metal Furniture’’
(EPA–450/2–77–032) (1977 CTG) that
provided RACT recommendations for
controlling VOC emissions from metal
furniture surface coating operations.
The 1977 CTG addresses VOC emissions
from metal furniture coating lines,
which include the coating application
area, the flash-off area, and the drying/
curing ovens. The 1977 CTG
recommended RACT for metal furniture
surface coating operations as 0.36 kg
VOC/l (3.0 lb/gal) of coating, excluding
water and exempt compounds, as
applied. This recommendation was
derived using an assumed VOC density
of 0.88 kg/l (7.36 lb/gal). The
recommended limit represents a higher
solids solvent-borne coating with
approximately 59 percent volume solids
and is equivalent to 0.61 kg VOC/l (5.1
lb VOC/gal) coating solids (the 1977
CTG-equivalent limit). This equates to
an 81 percent reduction of VOC
emissions from a conventional highVOC content solvent-borne coating.
In 1982, EPA promulgated the metal
furniture surface coating NSPS) (40 CFR
part 60 subpart EE.16 The 1982 NSPS is
similar to the 1977 CTG in that it
applies to metal furniture surface
coating operations which include the
coating application station, the flash-off
area, and the drying/curing oven. In
contrast to the 1977 CTG, metal
furniture surface coating operations that
use less than 3,842 l/yr (1,015 gal/yr) of
coating as-applied, are not subject to the
emission limits (other requirements,
such as recordkeeping and reporting, in
the 1982 NSPS do apply). The 1982
NSPS VOC limit is 0.90 kg VOC/l (7.5
lb VOC/gal) coating solids deposited.
Because the 1982 NSPS limit is in terms
of coating solids deposited and the 1977
CTG-equivalent limit is in terms of
coating solids used, these limits cannot
be compared directly. During the
implementation of the 1977 CTG, a
baseline transfer efficiency of 60 percent
(i.e., 0.60 volume of solids deposited per
unit volume of solids used) was used to
express the CTG-equivalent limit on a
solids deposited basis. The CTG16 The 1982 NSPS applies to sources that
commenced construction, reconstruction, or
modification after November 28, 1980.
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equivalent limit on a solids deposited
basis is 1.01 kg VOC/l (8.4 lb VOC/gal)
coating solids deposited. The 1982
NSPS limit is more stringent than the
1977 CTG-equivalent limit on a solids
deposited basis.
In 2003, EPA promulgated the
National Emissions Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants: Surface
Coating of Metal Furniture, 40 CFR part
63, subpart RRRR, which applies to
metal furniture surface coating
operations. The 2003 NESHAP
addresses organic HAP emissions,
including VOC HAP emissions, from all
activities at a facility that involve
coatings, thinners, and cleaning
materials used in metal furniture surface
coating operations. The areas covered by
the 2003 NESHAP include: Coating
operations; vessels used for storage and
mixing of coatings, thinners, and
cleaning materials; equipment,
containers, pipes and pumps used for
conveying coatings, thinners, and
cleaning materials; and storage vessels,
pumps and piping, and conveying
equipment and containers used for
waste materials.
The 2003 NESHAP imposes an
organic HAP emission limitation for
sources that commenced construction
on or before April 24, 2002 (existing
sources), of 0.10 kg organic HAP/l (0.83
lb organic HAP/gal) of coating solids
used. For sources that commenced
construction after April 24, 2002 (new
sources) the 2003 NESHAP prohibits
organic HAP emissions. The 2003
NESHAP also specifies work practices
to minimize organic HAP emissions
from the storage, mixing, and conveying
of coatings, thinners, and cleaning
materials used in and waste materials
generated by the coating operation.
In addition to the EPA actions
mentioned above, at least 36 States and
several local jurisdictions have specific
regulations that control VOC emissions
from metal furniture surface coating
operations. Almost all of the
jurisdictions that specifically address
metal furniture coatings have adopted
the emission limit recommended in the
1977 CTG. The California Bay Area Air
Quality Management District (Bay Area),
however, has adopted more stringent
limits. The Bay Area has established
two VOC emission limits for metal
furniture surface coatings: (1) 275 g
VOC/l (2.3 lb VOC/gal) of coating,
excluding water and exempt
compounds, as applied, for baked
coating; and (2) 340 g VOC/l (2.8 lb
VOC/gal) of coating, excluding water
and exempt compounds, as applied, for
air-dried coating. Under the Bay Area
regulation, metal furniture surface
coating facilities must use coatings that
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comply with the VOC emission limit or
as an alternative to using low-VOC
content coatings, the facility may choose
to install add-on controls. If add-on
controls are used, the Bay Area requires
that the VOC emissions generated by all
sources of VOC emissions (i.e., the
coating line) are reduced by at least 85
percent. The Bay Area’s emission limit
for air dried coating is also more
stringent than the 1977 CTG
recommended limit. In addition, its rule
requires the use of coating application
equipment that can meet a 65 percent or
greater transfer efficiency. Compliance
with the standard’s 65 percent or greater
transfer efficiency can be achieved by
properly operated electrostatic
application or HVLP spray, flow coat,
roller coat, dip coat including
electrodeposition, and brush coat.
Like the Bay Area’s limits the VOC
emission limits established by the South
Coast Air Quality Management District
(South Coast) for the coating of metal
parts and products (which includes
metal furniture using a baked general
multi-component coating) are: (1) 275 g
VOC/l (2.3 lb VOC/gal) coating,
excluding water and exempt
compounds, as applied, for baked
coating; and (2) 340 g VOC/l (2.8 lb
VOC/gal) of coating, excluding water
and exempt compounds, as applied, for
air-dried coating. In addition to the VOC
emission limits, the South Coast
regulation specifies the use of the
following application methods:
Electrostatic application, flow coat, dip
coat, roll coat, HVLP spray, hand
application methods, or other coating
application method capable of achieving
a transfer efficiency equivalent or better
than that achieved by HVLP spraying.
As an alternative to the VOC emission
limit and specified operating
equipment, the South Coast regulation
allows metal furniture facilities to
choose to install emission capture
systems and add-on control devices.
The South Coast regulation requires that
if a facility chooses the capture and addon control device alternative, 90 percent
of the VOC emissions must be captured
and the add-on control device must
have a control efficiency of 95 percent.
Several jurisdictions in California
have requirements to regulate the VOC
content of cleaning materials used in the
metal furniture surface coating industry.
These regulations are aimed at reducing
VOC emissions from cleaning materials
by combining work practice standards
with limits on the VOC content or
composite vapor pressure of the solvent
being used. In some cases, the
jurisdictions allow the use of add-on
controls as an alternative to the VOC
content/vapor pressure limits. The
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different air pollution control
authorities in California have
established similar work practice
standards. However, the cleaning
material VOC content/vapor pressure
limits vary by jurisdiction, as do the
overall control efficiency required when
add-on controls are used as an
alternative.
There are ten States that have
cleaning material regulations that apply
to metal furniture surface coating
operations. Of these, nine States do not
limit the VOC content/vapor pressure of
cleaning materials. Instead, they have
established equipment standards, work
practices, and/or recordkeeping
requirements. There is one State that
requires work practices as well as
limiting the vapor pressure of the
cleaning materials.
B. Recommended Control Techniques
The draft CTG recommends certain
control techniques for reducing VOC
emissions from metal furniture coatings
and cleaning materials. As explained in
the draft CTG, we are recommending
these control options for the metal
furniture surface coating operations that
emit 6.8 kg VOC/day (15 lb VOC/day or
3 tons/year) or more before
consideration of control. We do not
recommend these control approaches
for facilities that emit below this level
because of the very small VOC emission
reductions that can be achieved. The
recommended threshold level is
equivalent to the evaporation of
approximately 2 gallons of solvent per
day. Such a level is considered to be an
incidental level of solvent usage that
could be expected even in facilities that
use very low-VOC content coatings,
such as powder or UV cure coatings.
Furthermore, based on the 2002 NEI
data and the 2004 ozone nonattainment
designations, facilities emitting below
the recommended threshold level
collectively emit less than 4 percent of
the total reported VOC emissions from
metal furniture surface coating facilities
in ozone nonattainment areas. For these
reasons, we did not extend our
recommendations in the draft CTG to
these low emitting facilities. This
recommended threshold is also
consistent with our recommendations in
many previous CTGs.
For purposes of determining whether
a facility meets the 6.8-kg/day (15-lb/
day) threshold, aggregate emissions
from all metal furniture surface coating
operations and related cleaning
activities at a given facility are included.
1. Coatings
The draft CTG provides flexibility by
recommending two options for
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controlling VOC emissions from
coatings: (1) An emission limit that can
be achieved through the use of low-VOC
content coatings; or (2) an overall
control efficiency of 90 percent for
facilities that choose to use add-on
controls instead of low-VOC content
coating. Specifically, the low-VOC
content coatings recommendation
includes a limit of 0.275 kg VOC/l (2.3
lb VOC/gal) of coating, excluding water
and exempt compounds, as applied, and
the use of the following application
methods: Electrostatic spray, HVLP
spray, flow coat, roller coat, dip coat
including electrodeposition, brush coat,
or other coating application method
capable of achieving a transfer
efficiency equivalent or better than that
achieved by HVLP spraying. As an
alternative to using low-VOC content
coatings, a facility could choose to use
combinations of capture and add-on
control equipment to meet an overall
control efficiency of 90 percent.
Furthermore, the draft CTG
recommends work practices to control
VOC emissions from metal furniture
surface coating-related activities. The
draft CTG recommends that these work
practices include the following: (1)
Store all VOC-containing coatings,
thinners, and coating-related waste
materials in closed containers; (2)
ensure that mixing and storage
containers used for VOC-containing
coatings, thinners, and coating-related
waste materials are kept closed at all
times except when depositing or
removing these materials; (3) minimize
spills of VOC-containing coatings,
thinners, and coating-related waste
materials; and (4) convey coatings,
thinners and coating-related waste
materials from one location to another
in closed containers or pipes.
2. Cleaning Materials
The draft CTG recommends work
practices to reduce VOC emissions from
cleaning materials used in metal
furniture surface coating operations.
The draft CTG recommends that, at a
minimum, these work practices include
the following: (1) Store all VOCcontaining cleaning materials and used
shop towels in closed containers; (2)
ensure that mixing and storage
containers used for VOC-containing
cleaning materials are kept closed at all
times except when depositing or
removing these materials; (3) minimize
spills of VOC-containing cleaning
materials; (4) convey cleaning materials
from one location to another in closed
containers or pipes; and (5) minimize
VOC emissions from cleaning of storage,
mixing, and conveying equipment.
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C. Impacts of Recommended Control
Techniques
Based on the 2002 NEI database, we
estimate that there are a total of 456
metal furniture facilities in the U.S.
Using the April 2004 ozone
nonattainment designations, we
estimated that a total of 289 of these
facilities are in ozone nonattainment
areas. Based on the 2002 NEI VOC
emissions data, 143 of the 289 facilities
in ozone nonattainment areas emitted
VOC at or above the recommended 6.8kg/day (15-lb/day) VOC emissions
applicability threshold. According to
the 2002 NEI, these 143 facilities, in
aggregate, emit about 3,100 Megagrams
per year (Mg/yr) (3,400 tons per year
(tpy)) of VOC per year, or an average of
about 21 Mg/yr (23 tpy) of VOC per
facility.
As previously mentioned, the draft
CTG recommends either the use of lowVOC content coatings with specified
application methods or optional add-on
control technology. Both
recommendations also include certain
work practices to further reduce
emission from coatings, as well as
controlling VOC emissions from
cleaning materials. Because the industry
is already using predominantly lowVOC content coatings, such as powder
coatings, we have estimated the total
annual costs to be approximately
$240,500. Since these recommended
measures are expected to result in a
VOC emissions reduction of 1855 Mg/yr
(2040 tpy), the cost-effectiveness is
estimated to be $130/Mg ($118/ton). The
impacts are further discussed in the
draft CTG document.
The draft CTG also recommends work
practices for reducing VOC emissions
from both coatings and cleaning
materials. We believe that our work
practice recommendations in the draft
CTG will result in a net cost savings.
Implementing work practices reduce the
amount of cleaning materials used by
decreasing the amount that evaporates
and is wasted.
ozone nonattainment areas from metal
furniture surface coating operations.
As noted above, this section is
divided into two parts. In the first part,
we discuss our belief that the most
effective means of achieving VOC
emission reductions in this category is
through controls at the point of use of
the product, (i.e., through controls on
the use of coating and cleaning
materials at metal furniture surface
coating facilities), and this can only be
accomplished through a CTG. We
further explain that the recommended
approaches in the draft CTG are
consistent with existing effective EPA,
State, and local VOC control strategies.
In the second part, we discuss how the
distribution and place of use of the
products in this category also support
the use of a CTG. We also discuss the
likely VOC emission reductions
associated with a CTG, as compared to
a regulation. We further explain that
there are control approaches for this
category that result in significant VOC
emission reductions and that such
reductions could only be obtained by
controlling the use of the products
through a CTG. Such reductions could
not be obtained through a regulation
under CAA section 183(e) because the
controls affect the end-user, which is
not a regulated entity under CAA
section 183(e)(1)(C). For these reasons,
which are described more fully below,
we believe that a CTG will achieve
greater VOC emission reductions than a
rule for this category.
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D. Considerations in Determining
Whether a CTG Will Be Substantially as
Effective as a Regulation
1. The Most Effective Entity To Target
for VOC Reductions and Consistency
With Existing Federal, State, and Local
VOC Strategies
To evaluate the most effective entity
to target for VOC reductions, it is
important first to identify the primary
sources of VOC emissions. There are
two main sources of VOC emissions
from metal furniture coating: (1)
Evaporation of VOC from coatings; and
(2) evaporation of VOC from cleaning
materials. We address each of these
sources of VOC emissions, in turn,
below, as we discuss the CTG versus
regulation approach.
In determining whether to issue a
national rule or a CTG for the product
category of metal furniture coatings
under CAA section 183(e)(3)(C), we
analyzed the four factors identified
above in Section I.D in light of the
specific facts and circumstances
associated with this product category.
Based on that analysis, we propose to
determine that a CTG will be
substantially as effective as a rule in
achieving VOC emission reductions in
a. Coatings
A national rule could contain limits
for the as-sold VOC content of metal
furniture coatings. However, given the
nature of the metal furniture surface
coating process, we believe that such a
rule would result in little reduction in
VOC emissions.
Although the metal furniture surface
coating industry currently uses
primarily low-VOC content coatings
(such as high solids and powder
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coatings), these low-VOC content
coatings cannot replace the traditional
solvent-borne coatings in some
instances. Specialized appearance and
other functional characteristics
determine the types of coatings that can
be used. For example, some products
(e.g., recliner mechanisms) require a
thin dried film thickness that can only
be achieved using solvent-borne
coatings. Accordingly, a national rule
that requires low VOC content in metal
furniture surface coatings would
nevertheless need to include higher
VOC limits to allow for the use of
solvent-borne coatings when necessary
and to maintain these materials’
intended effect. Because such a rule
would merely codify what the metal
furniture surface coating facilities are
already doing, we do not expect that it
would result in significant reductions
from these facilities.
Furthermore, the effect of a national
rule setting low VOC content limits for
metal furniture coatings could be easily
subverted because it does not guarantee
that only those low-VOC content coating
materials will be used for metal
furniture surface coating. Many coatings
used in metal furniture surface coating
are not specifically identified by the
supplier as metal furniture coatings.
Therefore, these facilities can purchase
and use coating materials not specified
as metal furniture coatings, which
would effective nullify the
reformulation actions of the
manufacturers and suppliers, resulting
in no net change in VOC emissions in
ozone nonattainment areas.
Alternatively, a national rule could
set low VOC content limits for all
coatings sold, regardless of specified
end use, thus ensuring that only lowVOC materials are available for metal
furniture surface coating. Such an
approach would be unreasonable and
impractical. Coatings are sold for
multiple different commercial and
industrial purposes. Reducing the VOC
content of all coatings would impact
uses of these materials in operations
other than metal furniture surface
coating and may inadvertently preclude
the use of higher VOC containing
materials in many important, legitimate
contexts.
By contrast, a CTG can reach the end
users of the coating materials and can
therefore implement the control
measures that are more likely to achieve
the objective of reducing VOC emissions
from this product category in ozone
nonattainment areas. As previously
discussed, the draft CTG recommends
an emission limit for metal furniture
surface coating operations that can be
achieved through the use of low-VOC
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content coatings, and specific
application methods. Alternatively, the
draft CTG recommends an overall 90
percent control efficiency should a
facility choose to use add-on controls in
conjunction with high-VOC content
coatings. In addition, both
recommendations in the draft CTG
include work practices to further reduce
VOC emissions from coatings as well as
controlling VOC emissions from
cleaning materials. The use of low-VOC
content coatings, which are available for
metal furniture surface coating, can
greatly reduce VOC emissions.
Alternatively, control devices, such as
thermal oxidizers, catalytic oxidizers, or
carbon adsorbers, can achieve a
significant reduction in VOC emissions
from high-VOC content coatings. The
recommended work practices and
application methods have also been
shown to be effective VOC reduction
measures. Given the significant
reductions achievable through the use of
these recommended control measures,
the most effective entity to address VOC
emissions from metal furniture coatings
is the facility using the coating.
These control measures are consistent
with existing EPA, State, and local VOC
control strategies applicable to metal
furniture surface coating. As mentioned
above, previous EPA actions and
existing State and local regulations (in
particular, the majority of the California
jurisdictions) that address metal
furniture surface coating similarly call
for VOC emission reduction either
through the use of control devices in
conjunction with high-VOC content
coating materials or the use of
equivalent low-VOC content coating
materials; some also include work
practices and specific application
methods.
We cannot, however, issue a national
rule directly requiring metal furniture
surface coating facilities to use low-VOC
content coatings, control devices or
specific application methods, or to
implement work practices to reduce
VOC emissions because, pursuant to
CAA section 183(e)(1)(C) and (e)(3)(A),
the regulated entities subject to a
national rule would be the coating
manufacturers and suppliers, not the
metal furniture surface coating facilities.
By contrast, a CTG can reach the end
users of the metal furniture coatings,
and can therefore implement the
measures by the users that are identified
above as more likely to achieve the
intended VOC emission reduction goal.
Accordingly, we are including these
recommended control measures in the
draft CTG that applies to metal furniture
surface coatings facilities as the end
users of the coating materials.
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b. Cleaning Materials
There are two primary means to
control VOC emissions associated with
the cleaning materials used in the metal
furniture surface coating process: (1)
Limiting the VOC content or VOC vapor
pressure of the cleaning materials, and
(2) implementing work practices
governing the use of the cleaning
materials. A national rule requiring that
manufacturers of cleaning materials for
metal furniture coating operations
provide low-VOC content or low vapor
pressure (i.e., replacing VOC that have
a high vapor pressure with low vapor
pressure VOC) cleaning materials would
suffer from the same deficiencies noted
above with regard to the coatings.
Specifically, nothing in a national rule
that specifically regulates manufacturers
and suppliers of cleaning materials
specified for use in metal furniture
surface coating operations would
preclude the metal furniture surface
coating industry from purchasing bulk
solvents or other multipurpose cleaning
materials from other vendors. The
general availability of bulk solvents or
multipurpose cleaning materials from
vendors that would not be subject to
such regulation would directly
undermine the effectiveness of such a
national regulation.
A national rule also could, in theory,
limit the VOC content or vapor pressure
of all cleaning materials and all solvents
sold regardless of specified end use,
which would ensure that only low-VOC
content or low vapor pressure cleaning
materials are available for cleaning
operations associated with metal
furniture surface coating. As with a lowVOC content limit on coatings, setting a
low-VOC content or a low vapor
pressure limit for all cleaning materials
and solvents would be unreasonable
and impractical. Cleaning materials and
solvents are sold for multiple different
commercial and industrial purposes.
Replacing highly volatile cleaning
materials and solvents would impact
uses of these materials other than
cleaning operations at metal furniture
surface coating facilities and may
inadvertently preclude the use of such
materials in many important, legitimate
contexts.
The more effective approach for
reducing VOC emissions from cleaning
materials used by metal furniture
surface coaters is to control the use of
cleaning materials through work
practices. The draft CTG recommends
that metal furniture surface coating
facilities implement work practices to
reduce VOC emissions from cleaning
materials during metal furniture surface
coating operations. An example of an
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effective work practice is keeping
solvents and used shop towels in closed
containers. This measure alone can
significantly reduce VOC emissions
from cleaning materials. Provided
immediately below are examples of
other effective work practices that are
being required by State and local
regulations. Given the significant VOC
reductions achievable through the
implementation of work practices, we
conclude that the most effective entity
to address VOC emission from cleaning
materials used in metal furniture surface
coating operations is the facility using
the cleaning materials during surface
coating operations.
This recommendation is consistent
with measures required by State and
local jurisdictions for reducing VOC
emissions from cleaning materials used
in metal furniture surface coating
operations. In addition to keeping
solvents and shop towels in closed
containers, State and local requirements
include: Minimizing spills of VOCcontaining cleaning materials; cleaning
up spills immediately; and conveying
any VOC-containing cleaning materials
in closed containers or pipes. Work
practices have proven to be effective in
reducing VOC emissions.
We cannot, however, issue a rule
requiring such work practices for metal
furniture surface coating facilities
because, pursuant to CAA section
183(e)(1)(C) and (e)(3)(A), the regulated
entities subject to a national rule would
be the cleaning materials manufactures
and suppliers and not the metal
furniture surface coating facilities.
Accordingly, we are including these
work practices in the draft CTG that
applies to metal furniture surface
coating facilities as the end users of the
cleaning materials.
Based on the nature of the metal
furniture surface coating process, the
sources of significant VOC emissions
from this process, and the available
strategies for reducing such emissions,
the most effective means of achieving
VOC emission reductions from this
product category is through controls at
the point of use of the products, (i.e.,
through controls on metal furniture
surface coaters), and this can only be
accomplished through a CTG. The
recommended approaches described in
the draft CTG are also consistent with
effective existing EPA, State, and local
VOC control strategies for metal
furniture surface coating operations.
These two factors alone demonstrate
that a CTG will be substantially as
effective as a national regulation.
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2. The Product’s Distribution and Place
of Use and Likely VOC Emission
Reductions Associated With a CTG
Versus a Regulation
The factors described in the above
section, taken by themselves, weigh
heavily in favor of the CTG approach.
The other two factors relevant to the
CAA section 183(e)(3)(C) determination
only further confirm that a CTG will be
substantially as effective as a national
regulation for metal furniture coatings.
First, metal furniture coatings and
associated cleaning materials are used at
commercial facilities in specific,
identifiable locations. Specifically, these
materials are used in commercial
facilities that apply surface coating to
metal furniture as described in section
III.A. This stands in contrast to other
consumer products, such as
architectural coatings, that are widely
distributed and used by innumerable
small users (e.g., individual consumers
in the general public). Because the VOC
emissions are occurring at commercial
manufacturing facilities,
implementation and enforcement of
controls concerning the use of these
products are feasible. Therefore the
nature of the products’ place of use
further counsels in favor of the CTG
approach.
Second, a CTG will achieve greater
emission reduction than a national rule
for each source of VOC emissions from
metal furniture coating and associated
cleaning materials. For the reasons
described above, we believe that a
national rule limiting the VOC content
in coatings and cleaning materials used
in metal furniture surface coating
operations would result in little VOC
emissions reduction. By contrast, a CTG
can achieve significant VOC emissions
reduction because it can provide for the
highly effective emission control
strategies described above that are
applicable to the end-users of the
coatings and cleaning materials at metal
furniture surface coating facilities.
Specifically, the draft CTG can provide
for the use of control devices in
conjunction with high-VOC content
coatings, specific application methods,
and work practices. These significant
VOC reductions could not be obtained
through a national regulation, because
they require the implementation of
measures by the end-user. In addition,
as previously explained, strategies that
arguably could be implemented through
rulemaking, such as a limit on VOC
content in coatings and cleaning
materials, are far more effective if
implemented directly at the point of use
of the product. For the reasons stated
above, it is more effective to control the
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VOC content of coatings and cleaning
materials used for metal furniture
surface coating through a CTG than
through a national regulation.
Furthermore, the number of metal
furniture surface coating facilities
affected by our recommendations in this
draft CTG, as compared to the total
number of such facilities in ozone
nonattainment areas, does not affect our
conclusion that the CTG would be
substantially more effective than a rule
in controlling VOC emissions for this
product category. As previously
mentioned, we recommend the control
measures described in the draft CTG for
metal furniture surface coating facilities
that emit 6.8 kg/day (15 lb/day) or more
VOC. Based on the April 2004 ozone
nonattainment designations, we
estimate that 143 of the 289 metal
furniture surface coating facilities
located in ozone nonattainment areas
emit 6.8 kg/day (15 lb/day) or more and
are therefore addressed by our
recommendations in the draft CTG.
There are 146 metal furniture surface
coating facilities that would not be
covered by the recommendations in the
draft CTG. According to the 2002 NEI
database, these 146 facilities collectively
emitted less than 103 Mg/yr (115 tpy),
which is less than 4 percent of the total
reported VOC (an average of 0.71 Mg/yr
(0.78 tpy) per facility) in ozone
nonattainment areas. The fact that the
CTG addresses more than 96 percent of
the VOC emissions from metal furniture
surface coating facilities in an ozone
nonattainment area further supports our
conclusion that a CTG is more likely to
achieve the intended VOC emission
reduction goal for this product category
than a national rule.
Upon considering the above factors in
light of the facts and circumstances
associated with this product category,
we propose to determine that a CTG for
metal furniture coatings will be
substantially as effective as a national
regulation.
IV. Large Appliances Coatings
A. Industry Characterization
1. Source Category Description
This category of consumer and
commercial products includes the
coatings that are applied to the surfaces
of large appliances parts and products at
facilities that manufacture or assemble
large appliances. Large appliances
coatings include, but are not limited to,
primers, basecoats, topcoats, and
adhesives used in the manufacture of
large appliance parts or products. A
large appliance part is defined as any
organic surface-coated metal lid, door,
casing, panel, or other interior or
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exterior metal part or accessory that is
assembled to form a large appliance
product. A large appliance product is
defined as any organic surface-coated
metal range, oven, microwave oven,
refrigerator, freezer, washer, dryer,
dishwasher, water heater, trash
compactor, or any other large appliance
or equipment manufactured for
household, commercial, or recreational
use. The coatings provide a protective
and/or decorative layer to the surface of
large appliance products.
2. Processes, Sources of VOC Emissions,
and Controls
VOC emissions from large appliance
surface coating operations result from
the evaporation of VOC contained in
many of the coatings or used as cleaning
materials.17 The primary VOC emissions
from large appliances coatings occur
during coating application (prime,
single or topcoat application), flash-off,
and drying/curing of the coatings. Some
emissions also occur during mixing or
thinning of the coatings. The primary
VOC emissions from the cleaning
materials occur during cleaning
operations. VOC emissions from surface
preparation (i.e., wiping with cleaning
materials), storage and handling of
coatings and cleaning materials, and
waste/wastewater operations (i.e.
handling waste/wastewater that may
contain residues from both coatings and
cleaning materials) are small.
VOC emissions from mixing and/or
thinning of the coatings occur from
displacement of organic vapor-laden air
in containers used to mix coatings
containing solvents (thinners) prior to
coating applications. The displacement
of vapor-laden air can occur during the
filling of containers and can also be
caused by changes in temperature or
barometric pressure, or by agitation
during mixing.
The majority of VOC emissions occur
from evaporation of solvents during
coating application. The transfer
efficiency (the percent of coating solids
deposited on the large appliance part or
product) of a coating application
method affects the amount of VOC
emissions during coating application.
The more efficient a coating application
method is in transferring coatings to the
large appliance part or product, the
17 In a previous notice, EPA stated that the
cleaning operations associated with certain
specified section 183(e) consumer and commercial
product categories, including large appliances
coatings, would not be covered by EPA’s 2006 CTG
for industrial cleaning solvents. 71 Fed. Reg. 44522,
44540 (2006). In that notice, EPA expressed its
intention to address cleaning operations associated
with these categories in the CTGs for these specific
categories if the Agency determines that a CTG is
appropriate for a respective category.
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lower the volume of coatings (and
therefore solvents) needed per given
amount of production, thus resulting in
lower VOC emissions.
Most spray applied coatings are
electrostatically applied. In electrostatic
coating, the presence of an electrostatic
field creates an electrical attraction
between the paint, which is positively
charged, and the grounded metal
furniture component or product and
enhances the amount of coating
deposited on the surface. This coating
method is more efficient than
conventional air atomized spray, with
transfer efficiency typically ranging
from 60 to 90 percent.
Other coatings application methods
used in the large appliance surface
coating industry include flow coating,
roll coating, high volume/low pressure
(HVLP) spray, electrocoating,
autophoretic coating, and application of
coatings by hand. These coating
methods are described in more detail in
the draft CTG.
In typical liquid spray and dip coating
operations, the coated parts/products
move from the coating application area
through a flash-off area, where solvents
in the wet coating film evaporate
slowly, thus avoiding bubbling of the
coating while it is curing in the oven.
After being coated by any of the typical
coating operations, large appliance parts
and products are dried and cured using
heated dryers or by air drying. This step
removes any remaining volatiles from
the coatings so that the surfaces of the
large appliance parts and products meet
the hardness, durability, and
appearance requirements of customers.
Until the late 1970’s, the large
appliances industry used conventional
solvent-borne coatings almost
exclusively. Since then, the industry has
steadily moved towards alternative
coating formulations that eliminate or
reduce the amount of solvent in the
formulations, thus reducing VOC
emissions per unit amount of coating
solids used.
Currently the large appliance surface
coating industry uses primarily higher
solids solvent-borne coatings and
powder coatings and applies them by
electrostatic spraying. This combination
of coating type and application method
is an effective measure for reducing
VOC emissions. Not only are VOC
emissions reduced by using coatings
with low VOC content, the use of an
application method with a high transfer
efficiency, such as electrostatic
spraying, lowers the volume of coatings
needed per given amount of production,
thus further reducing the amount of
VOC emitted during the coating
application.
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Other alternative coatings include
waterborne coatings and UV cured
coatings. These coatings are described
in more detail in the CTG.
The most common approach to reduce
emissions from large appliance coating
operations is to use low-VOC content
coatings, including powder coatings,
higher solids solvent-borne coatings,
waterborne coatings and UV cured
coatings. Add-on controls may also be
used to reduce VOC emissions from
large appliance coating operations. The
majority of VOC emissions from spray
coating operations occur in the spray
booth. The volume of air exhausted
from a spray booth is typically high and
the VOC concentration in spray booth
exhaust is typically low. The cost of
controlling VOC in spray booth exhaust
is therefore greater than the cost of using
low-VOC content coatings. The wide
availability and lower cost of low-VOC
content coatings makes them a more
attractive option than add-on controls.
For those situations where an add-on
control device is used, thermal
oxidation and carbon adsorption are
most widely used. Please see the draft
CTG for a detailed discussion of these
and other available control devices. As
previously mentioned, another main
source of VOC emissions from large
appliances coating is the cleaning
materials. The VOC are emitted when
solvents that are used as cleaning
materials evaporate. Cleaning materials
are used for several purposes, including
the removal of coating residue or other
unwanted materials from coating
operations equipment, such as spray
guns, transfer lines (e.g., tubing or
piping), tanks, and the interior of spray
booths. These cleaning materials are
typically VOC solvents such as methyl
ethyl ketone (MEK) and toluene.
However, there has been an increase in
the use of alcohol and water-based
cleaners. Work practices and
housekeeping measures are widely used
throughout the large appliances coating
industry as a means of reducing VOC
emissions from these types of cleaning
operations. These measures include
covering mixing tanks, storing solvents
and solvent soaked rags and wipes in
closed containers, and cleaning spray
guns in an enclosed system. Another
means of reducing VOC emissions from
cleaning operations is the use of lowVOC content cleaning materials.
However, little information is available
regarding the extent of the use of these
types of cleaning materials to reduce
VOC emissions in the large appliances
coating industry.
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3. Existing Federal, State and Local VOC
Control Strategies
There are three previous EPA actions
that affect surface coating operations for
large appliances. In 1977, EPA issued
the Control of Volatile Organic
Emissions from Existing Stationary
Sources, Volume V: Surface Coating of
Large Appliances (EPA–450/2–77–034,
December 1977) document (1977 CTG),
which provided RACT
recommendations for controlling VOC
emissions from this industry. The 1977
CTG is applicable to prime, single and
topcoat application area(s), flash-off
area, and ovens. The 1977 CTG
recommended a VOC emission limit of
0.34 kg VOC/l (2.8 lb/gal) of coating,
excluding water and exempt
compounds, as applied. This
recommendation was derived using an
assumed VOC density of 0.88 kg/l (7.36
lb/gal). The recommended limit
represents a higher solids solvent-borne
coating with approximately 62 percent
volume solids and is equivalent to 0.55
kg VOC/l (4.5 lb VOC/gal) coating solids
(the 1977 CTG-equivalent limit). This
equates to an 81 percent reduction of
VOC emissions from a conventional
high-VOC content solvent-borne
coating.
In 1982, EPA promulgated the
Standards of Performance for Industrial
Surface Coating: Large Appliances, 40
CFR part 60, subpart SS (47 FR 47785,
October 27, 1982). The 1982 NSPS is
applicable to large appliance surface
coating operations which are defined as
prime coat or a topcoat operation and
includes the coating application
station(s), flash-off area, and curing
oven. The 1982 NSPS requires new large
appliances coating facilities to comply
with an emission limit of 0.9 kg
VOC/l(7.5 lb VOC/gal) of solids
deposited. Because the 1982 NSPS limit
is in terms of coating solids deposited
and the 1977 CTG-equivalent limit is in
terms of coating solids used, these limits
cannot be compared directly. During the
implementation of the 1977 CTG, a
baseline transfer efficiency of 60 percent
(i.e., 0.60 volume of solids deposited per
unit volume of solids used) was used to
express the CTG-equivalent limit on a
solids deposited basis. The CTGequivalent limit on a solids deposited
basis is 0.9 kg VOC/l (7.5 lb VOC/gal)
coating solids deposited which is the
same as the 1982 NSPS limit.
In 2002, EPA promulgated the
National Emission Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants: Surface
Coating of Large Appliances, 40 CFR
part 63, subpart NNNN (67 FR 48254,
July 23, 2002). The 2002 NESHAP
addresses organic HAP emissions,
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including VOC HAP emissions, from all
activities that involve coatings, thinners,
and cleaning materials used in large
appliance coating operations. The areas
covered by the 2002 NESHAP include:
Coating operations; vessels used for
storage and mixing of coatings, thinners,
and cleaning materials; equipment,
containers, pipes and pumps used for
conveying coatings, thinners, and
cleaning materials; and storage vessels,
pumps and piping, and conveying
equipment and containers used for
waste materials. The 2002 NESHAP
limits organic HAP to 0.13 kg/l (1.1 lb/
gal) of coating solids used during each
compliance period (monthly) for
existing sources and 0.022 kg/l (0.18 lb/
gal) of coating solids used for new
sources.
In addition to the EPA actions
mentioned above, at least 24 State and
local jurisdictions have specific
regulations that control VOC emissions
from large appliances coating
operations. Almost all of the
jurisdictions that specifically address
large appliances coatings have adopted
the emission limit recommended in the
1977 CTG. The California Bay Area Air
Quality Management District (Bay Area),
however, has adopted more stringent
limits. The Bay Area has established
two VOC emission limits for surface
coatings of large appliances: (1) 275 g
VOC/l (2.3 lb VOC/gal) of coating,
excluding water and exempt
compounds, as applied, for baked
coating; and (2) 340 g VOC/l (2.8 lb
VOC/gal) of coating, excluding water
and exempt compounds, as applied, for
air-dried coating. Under the Bay Area
regulation, large appliances coating
facilities must use coatings that comply
with the VOC emissions limit or as an
alternative to using low-VOC content
coatings, the facility may choose to
install add-on controls. If add-on
controls are used, the Bay Area requires
that the VOC emissions generated by all
sources of VOC emissions (i.e., the
coating line) are reduced by at least 85
percent. The Bay Area rule also requires
the use of coating application
equipment that can meet a 65 percent or
greater transfer efficiency. Compliance
with the standard’s 65 percent or greater
transfer efficiency requirement can be
achieved by properly operated
electrostatic application or HVLP spray,
flow coat, roller coat, dip coat including
electrodeposition, and brush coat.
Like the Bay Area’s limits, the VOC
emissions limits established by the
South Coast Air Quality Management
District (South Coast) for the coating of
metal parts and products (which
includes large appliances using a
general multi-component coating) are:
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(1) 275 g VOC/l (2.3 lb VOC/gal) of
coating, excluding water and exempt
compounds, as applied, for baked
coating; and (2) 340 g VOC/l (2.8 lb
VOC/gal) of coating, excluding water
and exempt compounds, as applied, for
air-dried coating. The South Coast
regulation specifies the use of the
following application methods:
Electrostatic application, flow coat, dip
coat, roll coat, HVLP spray, hand
application methods, or other coating
application method capable of achieving
a transfer efficiency equivalent or better
than that achieved by HVLP spraying.
As an alternative to the VOC emissions
limit and specified operating
equipment, the South Coast regulation
allows large appliances coating facilities
to choose to install emission capture
systems and add-on control devices.
The South Coast regulation requires that
if a facility chooses the capture and addon control device alternative, 90 percent
of the VOC emissions must be captured
and the add-on control device must
have a control efficiency of 95 percent.
Of the existing Federal, State, and
local large appliances coating
regulations discussed, the 2002
NESHAP, the Bay Area, the South Coast,
and some other State regulations
contain work practices as a control
strategy for controlling VOC emissions
from coating and cleaning materials.
Under the 2002 NESHAP, the large
appliances coating facility must develop
and implement a work practice plan to
minimize volatile organic HAP
emissions if they comply with the
standard using the emission rate with
add-on controls option. The California
regulations emphasize the work practice
of keeping coating and cleaning material
containers closed.
B. Recommended Control Techniques
The draft CTG recommends certain
control techniques for reducing VOC
emissions from large appliance coatings
and cleaning materials. As explained in
the draft CTG, we are recommending
these control options for the large
appliance furniture surface coating
operations that emit 6.8 kg VOC/day (15
lb VOC/day) or more before
consideration of control. We do not
recommend these control approaches
for facilities that emit below this level
because of the very small VOC emission
reductions that can be achieved. The
recommended threshold level is
equivalent to the evaporation of
approximately 2 gallons of solvent per
day. Such a level is considered to be an
incidental level of solvent usage that
could be expected even in facilities that
use very low-VOC content coatings,
such as powder or UV cure coatings.
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Furthermore, based on the 2002 NEI
data and the 2004 ozone nonattainment
designations, we estimate that all 68 of
the large appliance surface coating
facilities located in ozone
nonattainment areas currently emit at or
above this level. For these reasons, we
did not extend our recommendations in
the draft CTG to these low emitting
facilities. This recommended threshold
is also consistent with our
recommendations in many previous
CTGs.
For purposes of determining whether
a facility meets the 6.8-kg/day (15-lb/
day) threshold, aggregate emissions
from all large appliance surface coating
operations and related cleaning
activities at a given facility are included.
1. Coatings
The draft CTG provides flexibility by
recommending two options for
controlling VOC emissions from
coatings: (1) An emission limit that can
be achieved through the use of low VOC
content coatings; or (2) an overall
control efficiency of 90 percent for
facilities that choose to use add-on
controls instead of low-VOC content
coating. Specifically, the low-VOC
content coatings recommendation
includes a limit of 0.275 kg VOC/l (2.3
lb VOC/gal) of coating, excluding water
and exempt compounds, as applied, and
the use of the following application
methods: Electrostatic spray, HVLP
spray, flow coat, roller coat, dip coat
including electrodeposition, brush coat,
or other coating application method
capable of achieving a transfer
efficiency equivalent or better than that
achieved by HVLP spraying. As an
alternative to using low-VOC content
coatings, a facility could choose to use
combinations of capture and add-on
control equipment to meet an overall
control efficiency of 90 percent.
Furthermore, the draft CTG
recommends work practices to control
VOC emissions from large appliance
surface coating-related activities. The
draft CTG recommends that these work
practices include the following: (1)
Store all VOC-containing coatings,
thinners, and coating-related waste
materials in closed containers; (2)
ensure that mixing and storage
containers used for VOC-containing
coatings, thinners, and coating-related
waste materials are kept closed at all
times except when depositing or
removing these materials; (3) minimize
spills of VOC-containing coatings,
thinners, and coating-related waste
materials; and (4) convey coatings,
thinners and coating-related waste
materials from one location to another
in closed containers or pipes.
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2. Cleaning Materials
The draft CTG recommends work
practices to reduce VOC emissions from
cleaning materials used in large
appliance surface coating operations.
The draft CTG recommends that, at a
minimum, these work practices include
the following: (1) Store all VOCcontaining cleaning materials and used
shop towels in closed containers; (2)
ensure that mixing and storage
containers used for VOC-containing
cleaning materials are kept closed at all
times except when depositing or
removing these materials; (3) minimize
spills of VOC-containing cleaning
materials; (4) convey cleaning materials
from one location to another in closed
containers or pipes; and (5) minimize
VOC emissions from cleaning of storage,
mixing, and conveying equipment.
C. Impacts of Recommended Control
Techniques
EPA estimates that approximately 34
percent of the large appliances coating
facilities are located in ozone
nonattainment areas (based on the 2004
designations). Accordingly, of the
estimated 200 large appliances coating
facilities nationwide, 68 are projected to
be in nonattainment areas. As
previously mentioned, the control
strategies in the draft CTG are
recommended for large appliances
coating operations that emit at least 6.8
kg/day (15 lb/day). As noted above,
based on available data, we estimate
that all of the facilities in ozone
nonattainment areas emit at or above
this level.
Assuming that the 68 facilities
projected to be in nonattainment areas
are currently controlled at the 1977 CTG
recommended level of control,18 they
are estimated to emit, in total, about
3,064 Mg (3,370 tons) of VOC per year.
As discussed above, the draft CTG
recommends either the use of low-VOC
content coatings with specified
application methods or add-on control
technology. Both recommendations also
include certain work practices to further
reduce emissions from coatings as well
as controlling VOC emission from
cleaning materials. We estimated that
the control measures under either
recommendation would reduce VOC
emissions from large appliances coating
operations by about 32 percent (a
reduction of 989 Mg (1,088 tons) of VOC
from the nonattainment area facilities).
In our analysis of the impacts of the
recommended level of control, we have
assumed that all facilities will choose to
utilize the low-VOC content coatings
18 We believe that this assumption is reasonable
because 24 states have adopted the 1977 CTG limit.
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alternative. We made this assumption
for two reasons. First, we believe that
complying low-VOC content coatings
are already widely available at a cost
that is not significantly greater than the
cost of coatings with higher VOC
contents. Secondly, the use of add-on
controls to reduce emissions from
typical spray coating operations is a
more costly alternative because the
spray booths and flash-off areas are
often quite large and, thus, very large
volumes of air must be captured and
directed to the control device.
The compliance cost information that
was obtained during the development of
the NSPS and the NESHAP were used
to estimate the impacts of the
recommended level of control. This
information is believed to be applicable
because the primary means of
compliance with the NSPS and the
NESHAP was projected to be through
the use of complying low-VOC content
and low-HAP content coatings,
respectively. The coating reformulation
costs that were developed for estimating
the impacts of the NESHAP are also the
most recent information available. Using
relevant information from coating
reformulation studies and/or analyses
conducted as part of the development of
the NSPS and NESHAP, we estimate
that the recommended level of control
can be achieved at a total cost of
$544,000. Based on the associated VOC
emission reductions of 989 Mg/yr (1088
tpy), the estimated cost-effectiveness is
$550/Mg ($500/ton). These estimates are
further discussed in the draft CTG
document.
The draft CTG also recommends work
practices for reducing VOC emissions
from both coatings and cleaning
materials. We believe that our work
practice recommendations in the draft
CTG will result in a net cost savings.
Implementing work practices reduce the
amount of cleaning materials used by
decreasing the amount that evaporates
and is wasted.
D. Considerations in Determining
Whether a CTG Will Be Substantially as
Effective as a Regulation
In determining whether to issue a
national rule or a CTG for the product
category of large appliances coatings
under CAA section 183(e)(3)(C), we
analyzed the four factors identified
above in Section I.D in light of the
specific facts and circumstances
associated with this product category.
Based on that analysis, we propose to
determine that a CTG will be
substantially as effective as a rule in
achieving VOC emission reductions in
ozone nonattainment areas from large
appliance surface coating operations.
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As noted above, this section is
divided into two parts. In the first part,
we discuss our belief that the most
effective means of achieving VOC
emission reductions in this category is
through controls at the point of use of
the products, (i.e., through controls on
the use of coating and cleaning
materials at large appliances coating
facilities), and this can only be
accomplished through a CTG. We
further explain that the recommended
approaches in the draft CTG are
consistent with existing effective
Federal, State and local VOC control
strategies. In the second part, we discuss
how the distribution and place of use of
the products in this category also
support the use of a CTG. We also
discuss the likely VOC emission
reductions associated with a CTG, as
compared to a regulation. We further
explain that there are control
approaches for this category that result
in significant VOC emission reductions
and that such reductions could only be
obtained by controlling the use of the
products through a CTG. Such
reductions could not be obtained
through a regulation under CAA section
183(e) because the controls affect the
end-user, which is not a regulated entity
under CAA section 183(e)(1)(C). For
these reasons, which are described more
fully below, we believe that a CTG will
achieve much greater VOC emission
reductions than a national rule
developed under CAA section 183(e) for
this category.
1. The Most Effective Entity To Target
for VOC Reductions and Consistency
With Existing Federal, State and Local
VOC Strategies
To evaluate the most effective entity
to target for VOC reductions, it is
important first to identify the primary
sources of VOC emissions. There are
two main sources of VOC emissions
from large appliances coating: (1)
Evaporation of VOC from coatings; and
(2) evaporation of VOC from cleaning
materials. We address each of these
sources of VOC emissions, in turn,
below, as we discuss the CTG versus
regulation approach.
a. Coatings
A national rule could contain limits
for the as-sold VOC content of large
appliance coatings. However, given the
nature of the large appliances coating
process, we believe that such a rule
would result in little reduction in VOC
emissions.
Although significant amounts of lowVOC content coatings are currently
being used for large appliances coating,
they cannot replace the traditional
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solvent-borne coatings in some
instances. As described above, customer
specifications, quick drying time
(needed to meet production demands
and prevent surface damage) and capital
investments are reasons why solventborne coatings are still being used.
Accordingly, a national rule that
requires low VOC content in large
appliance coatings would nevertheless
need to include higher VOC content
limits to allow for the use of solventborne coatings when necessary and to
maintain these materials’ intended
effect. Because such a rule would
merely codify what the large appliance
surface coating facilities are already
doing, we do not expect that it would
result in significant VOC reductions
from these facilities.
Furthermore, the effect of a national
rule setting low VOC content limits for
large appliance surface coatings could
be easily subverted because it does not
guarantee that only those low VOC
coating materials will be used for large
appliance surface coating. Many
coatings used in large appliance surface
coating are not identified by the
supplier specifically as large appliances
coatings. Therefore, these facilities can
purchase and use coating materials not
specified as large appliance coatings,
which would effectively nullify the
reformulation actions of the
manufacturers and suppliers, resulting
in no net change in VOC emissions in
ozone nonattainment areas.
Alternatively, a national rule could, in
theory, limit the VOC content of all
coatings sold regardless of specified end
use, thus ensuring that only low-VOC
materials are available for large
appliances coatings. Such an approach
would be unreasonable and impractical.
Coatings are sold for multiple different
commercial and industrial purposes.
Coating reformulation could impact
uses of these materials other than large
appliances coating and may
inadvertently preclude the use of such
materials in many important, legitimate
contexts.
By contrast, a CTG can reach the end
users of the coating materials and can
therefore implement the control
measures that are more likely to achieve
the objective of reducing VOC emissions
from this product category in ozone
nonattainment areas. As previously
discussed, the draft CTG recommends
an emission limit for large appliances
surface coating operations that can be
achieved through the use of low-VOC
content coatings and specific
application methods. Alternatively, the
draft CTG recommends an overall 90
percent control efficiency should a
facility choose to use add-on controls in
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conjunction with high VOC content
coatings. In addition, both
recommendations in the draft CTG
include work practices to further reduce
VOC emissions from coatings as well as
controlling VOC emissions from
cleaning materials. The use of low-VOC
content coatings can greatly reduce VOC
emissions. Alternatively, control
devices, such as thermal oxidizers,
catalytic oxidizers, or carbon adsorbers,
can achieve a significant reduction in
VOC emissions from high VOC content
coatings. The recommended work
practices and application methods have
also been shown to be effective VOC
reduction measures. Given the
significant reductions achievable
through use of these recommended
control measures, the most effective
entity to address VOC emissions from
large appliances coatings is the facility
using the coatings.
These control measures are consistent
with existing EPA, State and local VOC
control strategies applicable to large
appliances coating. As mentioned
above, previous EPA actions and
existing State and local regulations that
address large appliance surface coating
similarly call for VOC emission
reduction through the use of control
devices in conjunction with high-VOC
content coating materials or the use of
equivalent low-VOC content coating
materials; some also include work
practices and specific application
methods.
We cannot, however, issue a national
rule directly requiring large appliances
coating facilities to use low-VOC
content coatings, specific application
methods, or control devices, or to
implement work practices to reduce
VOC emissions because, pursuant to
CAA section 183(e)(1)(C) and (e)(3)(A),
the regulated entities subject to a
national rule would be the coating
manufacturers and suppliers, not the
large appliances facilities. By contrast, a
CTG can reach the end users of the large
appliances coatings and can therefore
implement the measures by the users
that are identified above as more likely
to achieve the intended VOC emission
reduction goal. Accordingly, we are
including these control measures in the
draft CTG that applies to large
appliances coating facilities as the end
users of the coating materials.
b. Cleaning Materials
There are two primary means to
control VOC emissions associated with
the cleaning materials used in large
appliances coating process: (1) Limiting
the VOC content or vapor pressure of
the cleaning materials, and (2)
implementing work practices governing
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the use of the product. A national rule
requiring that manufacturers of cleaning
materials for large appliance coating
operations provide low-VOC content or
low vapor pressure cleaning materials
would suffer from the same deficiencies
noted above with regard to coatings.
Specifically, nothing in a national rule
governing manufacturers of the cleaning
materials would preclude the large
appliances products facilities from
purchasing bulk solvents or other
multipurpose cleaning materials from
other vendors. The general availability
of bulk solvents or multipurpose
cleaning materials from vendors that
would not be subject to the regulation
would directly undermine the
effectiveness of such a national
regulation.
A national rule also could, in theory,
limit the VOC content or vapor pressure
of all cleaning materials and all solvents
sold regardless of specified end use,
which would ensure that only low-VOC
content or low vapor pressure cleaning
materials are available for cleaning
operations associated with large
appliance surface coating. As with a
low-VOC content limit on coatings,
setting a low-VOC content or a low
vapor pressure limit for all cleaning
materials and solvents would be
unreasonable and impractical. Cleaning
materials and solvents are sold for
multiple different commercial and
industrial purposes. Replacing highly
volatile cleaning materials and solvents
would impact uses of these materials
other than cleaning operations at large
appliance surface coating facilities and
may inadvertently preclude the use of
such materials in many important,
legitimate contexts.
The more effective approach for
obtaining VOC reductions from cleaning
materials used by large appliances
coaters is to control the use of such
materials. The draft CTG recommends
large appliance coaters implement work
practices to reduce VOC emissions from
cleaning materials during large
appliances coating operations. An
example of an effective work practice is
keeping solvents and used shop towels
in closed containers. This measure
alone can significantly reduce VOC
emissions from cleaning materials.
Provided immediately below are
examples of other effective work
practices that are being required by
State and local regulations. Given the
significant VOC reductions achievable
through implementation of work
practices, we conclude that the most
effective entity to address VOC
emissions from cleaning materials used
in large appliances coating operations is
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the facility using the cleaning materials
during these operations.
This recommendation is consistent
with measures required by Federal,
States, and localities for reducing VOC
emissions from cleaning materials used
in large appliances coating operations.
In addition to keeping solvents and
shop towels in closed containers, State
and local requirements include:
Cleaning and wash-off solvent
accounting systems (i.e., log of solvent
purchase, usage, and disposal);
collecting and containing all VOC when
cleaning coating lines and spray guns,
and using low-VOC cleaning materials.
Work practices have proven to be
effective in reducing VOC emissions.
We cannot, however, issue a rule
requiring such work practices at large
appliances facilities because, pursuant
to CAA section 183(e)(1)(C) and
(e)(3)(A), the regulated entities subject
to a national rule would be the cleaning
materials manufacturers and suppliers
and not the large appliances facilities.
Accordingly, we are including these
work practices in the draft CTG that
applies to large appliances coating
facilities as the end users of the cleaning
materials.
Based on the nature of large
appliances coating process, the sources
of significant VOC emissions from this
process, and the available strategies for
reducing such emissions, the most
effective means of achieving VOC
emission reductions from this product
category is through controls at the point
of use of the products, (i.e., through
controls on large appliances coaters),
and this can only be accomplished
through a CTG. The approaches
described in the draft CTG are also
consistent with effective existing EPA,
State, local VOC control strategies for
large appliances coating operations.
These two factors alone demonstrate
that a CTG will be substantially as
effective as a national regulation under
CAA section 183(e).
2. The Product’s Distribution and Place
of Use and Likely VOC Emission
Reductions Associated With a CTG
Versus a Regulation
The factors described in the above
section, taken by themselves, weigh
heavily in favor of the CTG approach.
The other two factors relevant to the
CAA section 183(e)(3)(C) determination
only further confirm that a CTG will be
substantially as effective as a national
regulation for large appliances coatings.
First, the products described above
are used at commercial facilities in
specific, identifiable locations.
Specifically, these materials are used in
commercial facilities that coat large
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appliance products and parts, as
described in Section IV.A. This stands
in contrast to other consumer products,
such as architectural coatings, that are
widely distributed and used by
innumerable small users (e.g.,
individual consumers in the general
public). Because the VOC emissions are
occurring at commercial manufacturing
facilities, implementation and
enforcement of controls concerning the
use of these products are feasible and
therefore the nature of these products’
place of use further counsels in favor of
the CTG approach.
Second, a CTG will achieve greater
emission reduction than a national rule
for each source of VOC emissions from
large appliances coatings and associated
cleaning materials. For the reasons
described above, we believe that a
national rule limiting the VOC content
in coatings and cleaning materials used
in large appliance surface coating
operations would result in little VOC
emissions reduction. By contrast, a CTG
can achieve significant VOC emission
reduction because it can provide for the
highly effective emission control
strategies described above that are
applicable to the end-users of the
coating and cleaning materials at large
appliance facilities. Specifically, the
draft CTG can provide for the use of
add-on control devices in conjunction
with high-VOC coatings and work
practices. These significant VOC
reductions associated with these
measures could not be obtained through
a national regulation because they are
achieved through the implementation of
measures by the end-user. In addition,
as previously explained, strategies that
arguably could be implemented through
rulemaking, such as limiting the VOC
content in large appliances coatings and
cleaning materials, are far more effective
if implemented directly at the point of
use of the product. For the reasons
stated above, it is more effective to
control the VOC content of coatings and
cleaning materials used for large
appliances coating through a CTG than
through a national regulation.
Furthermore, the number of large
appliances coating facilities affected by
our recommendations in this draft CTG,
as compared to the number of such
facilities in nonattainment areas does
not affect our conclusion that the CTG
would be more effective than a rule in
controlling VOC emissions for this
product category. As previously
mentioned, we recommend the control
measures described in the draft CTG for
large appliances surface coating
facilities that emit at or above 6.8
kilograms per day (15 pounds per day).
Based on the 2004 ozone nonattainment
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designations, we estimate that all of the
large appliances surface coating
facilities located in ozone
nonattainment areas (68 facilities) emit
at or above this level and are therefore
addressed by our recommendations in
the draft CTG.
Upon considering the above factors in
light of the facts and circumstances
associated with this product category,
we propose to determine that a CTG for
large appliances coatings will be
substantially as effective as a national
regulation.
V. Statutory and Executive Order (EO)
Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory
Planning and Review
Under EO 12866 (58 FR 51735,
October 4, 1993), this action is a
‘‘significant regulatory action,’’ since it
is deemed to raise novel legal or policy
issues. Accordingly, EPA submitted this
action to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for review under EO
12866 and any changes made in
response to OMB recommendations
have been documented in the docket for
this action.
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
This action does not impose an
information collection burden under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction
Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). This action
does not contain any information
collection requirements.
Burden means the total time, effort, or
financial resources expended by persons
to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose
or provide information to or for a
Federal agency. This includes the time
needed to review instructions; develop,
acquire, install, and utilize technology
and systems for the purposes of
collecting, validating, and verifying
information, processing and
maintaining information, and disclosing
and providing information; adjust the
existing ways to comply with any
previously applicable instructions and
requirements; train personnel to be able
to respond to a collection of
information; search data sources;
complete and review the collection of
information; and transmit or otherwise
disclose the information.
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid OMB
control number. The OMB control
numbers for EPA’s regulations in 40
CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
generally requires an agency to prepare
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a regulatory flexibility analysis of any
rule subject to notice and comment
rulemaking requirements under the
Administrative Procedure Act or any
other statute unless the agency certifies
that the rule will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities.
Small entities include small
businesses, small organizations, and
small governmental jurisdictions.
For purposes of assessing the impacts
of this rule on small entities, small
entity is defined as: (1) A small business
as defined by the Small Business
Administration’s (SBA) regulations at 13
CFR 121.201; (2) a small governmental
jurisdiction that is a government of a
city, county, town, school district, or
special district with a population of less
than 50,000; and (3) a small
organization that is any not-for-profit
enterprise which is independently
owned and operated and is not
dominant in its field.
After considering the economic
impacts of this proposed determination,
I certify that this action will not have a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
This proposed action will not impose
any requirements on small entities. EPA
is proposing to take final action to list
the three Group III consumer and
commercial product categories
addressed in this notice for purposes of
CAA section 183(e) of the Act. The
listing action alone does not impose any
regulatory requirements. EPA is also
proposing to determine that, for the
three product categories at issue, a CTG
will be substantially as effective as a
national regulation in achieving VOC
emission reductions in ozone
nonattainment areas. The proposed
determination means that EPA has
concluded that it is not appropriate to
issue Federal regulations under CAA
section 183(e) to regulate VOC
emissions from these three product
categories. Instead, EPA has concluded
that it is appropriate to issue guidance
in the form of CTGs that provide
recommendations to States concerning
potential methods to achieve needed
VOC emission reductions from these
product categories. In addition to the
proposed determination, EPA is also
taking comment on the draft CTGs for
these three product categories. When
finalized, these CTG will be guidance
documents. EPA does not directly
regulate any small entities through the
issuance of a CTG. Instead, EPA issues
CTG to provide States with guidance on
developing appropriate regulations to
obtain VOC emission reductions from
the affected sources within certain
nonattainment areas. EPA’s issuance of
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a CTG does trigger an obligation on the
part of certain States to issue State
regulations, but States are not obligated
to issue regulations identical to the
Agency’s CTG. States may follow the
guidance in the CTG or deviate from it,
and the ultimate determination of
whether a State regulation meets the
RACT requirements of the CAA would
be determined through notice and
comment rulemaking in the Agency’s
action on each State’s State
Implementation Plan. Thus, States
retain discretion in determining what
degree to follow the CTGs.
We continue to be interested in the
potential impacts of the proposed rule
on small entities and welcome
comments on issues related to such
impacts.
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
Title II of the Unfunded Mandates
Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), Pub. L.
104–4, establishes requirements for
Federal agencies to assess the effects of
their regulatory actions on State, local,
and tribal governments and the private
sector. Under section 202 of the UMRA,
EPA generally must prepare a written
statement, including a cost-benefit
analysis, for proposed and final rules
with ‘‘Federal mandates’’ that may
result in expenditures to State, local,
and tribal governments, in the aggregate,
or to the private sector, of $100 million
or more in any one year. Before
promulgating an EPA rule for which a
written statement is needed, section 205
of the UMRA generally requires EPA to
identify and consider a reasonable
number of regulatory alternatives and to
adopt the least costly, most costeffective or least burdensome alternative
that achieves the objectives of the rule.
The provisions of section 205 do not
apply when they are inconsistent with
applicable law. Moreover, section 205
allows EPA to adopt an alternative other
than the least costly, most cost-effective
or least burdensome alternative if the
Administrator publishes with the final
rule an explanation why that alternative
was not adopted. Before EPA establishes
any regulatory requirements that may
significantly or uniquely affect small
governments, including tribal
governments, it must have developed
under section 203 of the UMRA a small
government agency plan. The plan must
provide for notifying potentially
affected small governments, enabling
officials of affected small governments
to have meaningful and timely input in
the development of EPA regulatory
proposals with significant Federal
intergovernmental mandates, and
informing, educating, and advising
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37603
small governments on compliance with
the regulatory requirements.
EPA has determined that the listing
action and the proposed determination
for each of the three product categories
that a CTG would be substantially as
effective as a regulation for these
product categories contain no Federal
mandates (under the regulatory
provisions of Title II of the UMRA) for
State, local, or tribal governments or the
private sector because they impose no
enforceable duty on any State, local or
tribal governments or the private sector.
(Note: The term ‘‘enforceable duty’’ does
not include duties and conditions in
voluntary Federal contracts for goods
and services.) Thus, this action is not
subject to the requirements of sections
202 and 205 of the UMRA. In addition,
we have determined that the listing
action and the proposed determination
contain no regulatory requirements that
might significantly or uniquely affect
small governments because they contain
no regulatory requirements that apply to
such governments or impose obligations
upon them. Therefore, this action is not
subject to the requirements of section
203 of UMRA.
E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
Executive Order 13132, entitled
‘‘Federalism’’ (64 FR 43255, August 10,
1999), requires EPA to develop an
accountable process to ensure
‘‘meaningful and timely input by State
and local officials in the development of
regulatory policies that have federalism
implications.’’ ‘‘Policies that have
federalism implications’’ is defined in
the EO to include regulations that have
‘‘substantial direct effects on the States,
on the relationship between the national
government and the States, or on the
distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various
levels of government.’’
The listing action and the proposed
determination that CTGs are
substantially as effective as regulations
for these product categories do not have
federalism implications. They do not
have substantial direct effects on the
States, on the relationship between the
national government and the States, or
on the distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various
levels of government, as specified in
Executive Order 13132. The CAA
establishes the relationship between the
Federal Government and the States, and
this action does not impact that
relationship. Thus, Executive Order
13132 does not apply to the listing
action and the proposed determination.
However, in the spirit of EO 13132, and
consistent with EPA policy to promote
communications between EPA and State
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and local governments, EPA is soliciting
comment on the listing action, the
proposed determination, and the
proposed draft CTGs from State and
local officials.
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F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation
and Coordination With Indian Tribal
Governments
Executive Order 13175, entitled
‘‘Consultation and Coordination with
Indian Tribal Governments’’ (65 FR
67249, November 9, 2000), requires EPA
to develop an accountable process to
ensure ‘‘meaningful and timely input by
Tribal officials in the development of
regulatory policies that have Tribal
implications.’’
The listing action and the proposed
determination that CTGs would be
substantially as effective as regulations
to achieve VOC emission reductions
from these product categories do not
have Tribal implications, as specified in
Executive Order 13175. They do not
have a substantial direct effect on one or
more Indian Tribes, in that the listing
action and the proposed determination
impose no regulatory burdens on tribes.
Furthermore, the listing action and the
proposed determination do not affect
the relationship or distribution of power
and responsibilities between the Federal
government and Indian Tribes. The
CAA and the Tribal Authority Rule
(TAR) establish the relationship of the
Federal government and Tribes in
implementing the Clean Air Act.
Because listing action and the proposed
determination do not have Tribal
implications, Executive Order 13175
does not apply.
G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of
Children From Environmental Health
and Safety Risks
Executive Order 13045, ‘‘Protection of
Children from Environmental Health
and Safety Risks’’ (62 FR 19885, April
23, 1997) applies to any rule that (1) is
determined to be ‘‘economically
significant’’ as defined under EO 12866,
and (2) concerns an environmental
health or safety risk that EPA has reason
to believe may have a disproportionate
effect on children. If the regulatory
action meets both criteria, the Agency
must evaluate the environmental health
or safety effects of the planned rule on
children, and explain why the planned
regulation is preferable to other
potentially effective and reasonably
feasible alternatives considered by the
Agency.
The listing action and the proposed
determination are not subject to
Executive Order 13045 because they are
not economically significant regulatory
actions as defined by Executive Order
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12866. In addition, EPA interprets
Executive Order 13045 as applying only
to those regulatory actions that are
based on health and safety risks, such
that the analysis required under section
5–501 of the Executive Order has the
potential to influence the regulations.
The listing action and the proposed
determination are not subject to
Executive Order 13045 because they do
not include regulatory requirements
based on health or safety risks.
H. Executive Order 13211: Actions
Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use
This rule is not a ‘‘significant energy
action’’ as defined in Executive Order
13211, ‘‘Action Concerning Regulations
That Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use’’ (66 FR 28355 (May
22, 2001)) because it is not likely to
have a significant adverse effect on the
supply, distribution, or use of energy.
These actions impose no regulatory
requirements and are therefore not
likely to have any adverse energy
effects.
I. National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act
Section 12(d) of the National
Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 (NTTAA), Public Law No.
104–113, Section 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272
note) directs EPA to use voluntary
consensus standards in their regulatory
activities unless to do so would be
inconsistent with applicable law or
otherwise impractical. Voluntary
consensus standards are technical
standards (e.g., materials specifications,
test methods, sampling procedures,
business practices, etc.) that are
developed or adopted by voluntary
consensus standards bodies. The
NTTAA directs EPA to provide
Congress, through OMB, with
explanations when the Agency does not
use available and applicable voluntary
consensus standards.
The listing action and the proposed
do not involve technical standards.
Therefore, EPA is not considering the
use of any voluntary consensus
standards.
J. Executive Order 12898: Federal
Actions to Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and
Low-Income Populations
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629
(Feb. 16, 1994)) establishes Federal
executive policy on environmental
justice. Its main provision directs
Federal agencies, to the greatest extent
practicable and permitted by law, to
make environmental justice part of their
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mission by identifying and addressing,
as appropriate, disproportionately high
and adverse human health or
environmental effects of their programs,
policies, and activities on minority
populations and low-income
populations in the United States.
EPA has determined that the listing
action and the proposed determination
will not have disproportionately high
and adverse human health or
environmental effects on minority or
low-income populations. The purpose
of section 183(e) is to obtain VOC
emission reductions to assist in the
attainment of the ozone NAAQS. The
health and environmental risks
associated with ozone were considered
in the establishment of the ozone
NAAQS. The level is designed to be
protective of the public with an
adequate margin of safety. EPA’s listing
of the products and its determination
that CTGs are substantially as effective
as regulations are actions intended to
help States achieve the NAAQS in the
most appropriate fashion. Accordingly,
these actions would help increase the
level of environmental protection to
populations in affected ozone
nonattainment areas without having any
disproportionately high and adverse
human health or environmental effects
on any populations, including any
minority or low-income populations.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 59
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Consumer and
commercial products, Confidential
business information, Ozone, Reporting
and recordkeeping requirements,
Volatile organic compounds.
Dated: June 29, 2007.
Stephen L. Johnson,
Administrator.
For the reasons stated in the
preamble, title 40, chapter I of the Code
of Federal Regulations is proposed to be
amended as follows:
PART 59—[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for part 59
continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7414 and 7511b(e).
Subpart A—General
2. Section 59.1 is revised to read as
follows:
§ 59.1 Final determinations under section
183(e)(3)(C) of the Clean Air Act.
This section identifies the consumer
and commercial product categories for
which EPA has determined that control
techniques guidelines (CTGs) will be
substantially as effective as regulations
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in reducing volatile organic compound
(VOC) emissions in ozone
nonattainment areas:
(a) Wood furniture coatings;
(b) Aerospace coatings;
(c) Shipbuilding and repair coatings;
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(d) Lithographic printing materials;
(e) Letterpress printing materials;
(f) Flexible packaging printing
materials;
(g) Flat wood paneling coatings;
(h) Industrial cleaning solvents;
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(i) Paper, film, and foil coatings;
(j) Metal furniture coatings; and
(k) Large appliance coatings.
[FR Doc. E7–13104 Filed 7–9–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 10, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37582-37605]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-13104]
[[Page 37581]]
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Part II
Environmental Protection Agency
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40 CFR Part 59
Consumer and Commercial Products: Control Techniques Guidelines in
Lieu of Regulations for Paper, Film, and Foil Coatings; Metal Furniture
Coatings; and Large Appliance Coatings; Proposed Rule
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 131 / Tuesday, July 10, 2007 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 37582]]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 59
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0454; FRL-8336-7]
RIN 2060-A014
Consumer and Commercial Products: Control Techniques Guidelines
in Lieu of Regulations for Paper, Film, and Foil Coatings; Metal
Furniture Coatings; and Large Appliance Coatings
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: 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 three product
categories: Paper, film, and foil coatings; metal furniture coatings;
and large appliance coatings. Based on this determination, EPA may
issue Control Techniques Guidelines in lieu of national regulations for
these product categories. EPA has 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. EPA further proposes to take final action to list the three
Group III consumer and commercial product categories addressed in this
notice pursuant to Clean Air Act section 183(e).
DATES: Comments: Written comments on the proposed determination must be
received by August 9, 2007, unless a public hearing is requested by
July 20, 2007. If a hearing is requested on the proposed determination,
written comments must be received by August 24, 2007. We are also
soliciting written comments on the draft CTGs and those comments must
be submitted within the comment period for the proposed determination.
Public Hearing. If anyone contacts EPA requesting to speak at a
public hearing concerning the proposed determination by July 20, 2007,
we will hold a public hearing on July 25, 2007. The substance of any
such hearing will be limited solely to EPA's proposed determination
under Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act) section 183(e)(3)(C) that the
Control Techniques Guidelines (CTGs) for the three Group III product
categories will be substantially as effective as regulations in
reducing volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions in ozone
nonattainment areas. Accordingly, if a commenter has no objection to
EPA's proposed determination under CAA section 183(e)(3)(C), but has
comments on the substance of a draft CTG, the commenter should submit
those comments in writing.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by applicable docket ID
number, by one of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail: a-and-r-docket@epa.gov.
Fax: (202) 566-1741.
Mail: Comments concerning the Proposed Determination
should be sent to: Consumer and Commercial Products, Group III--
Determination to Issue Control Techniques Guidelines in Lieu of
Regulations, Docket No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0454. Comments concerning any
draft CTG should be sent to the applicable docket, as noted below:
Consumer and Commercial Products--Paper, Film, and Foil Coatings,
Docket No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0336; Consumer and Commercial Products--
Metal Furniture Coatings, Docket No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0334; or Consumer
and Commercial Products--Large Appliance Coatings, Docket No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2007-0329, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center,
Mailcode 6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
Please include a total of two copies.
Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center, Public Reading Room, EPA
West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of
operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of
boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to the applicable docket. EPA's
policy is that all comments received will be included in the public
docket without change and may be made available online at https://
www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided,
unless the comment includes information claimed to be confidential
business information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to
be CBI or otherwise protected through www.regulations.gov or e-mail.
The www.regulations.gov Web site is an ``anonymous access'' system,
which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information
unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an e-
mail comment directly to EPA without going through www.regulations.gov,
your e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part
of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available
on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends
that you include your name and other contact information in the body of
your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read
your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for
clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic
files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of
encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses.
Public Hearing: If a public hearing is held, it will be held at 10
a.m. on July 25, 2007 at Building C on the EPA campus in Research
Triangle Park, NC, or at an alternate site nearby. Persons interested
in presenting oral testimony must contact Ms. Dorothy Apple, U.S. EPA,
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Sector Policies and
Programs Division, Natural Resources and Commerce Group (E143-03),
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, telephone number: (919)
541-4487, fax number (919) 541-3470, e-mail address:
apple.dorothy@epa.gov, no later than July 20, 2007. Persons interested
in attending the public hearing must also call Ms. Apple to verify the
time, date, and location of the hearing. If no one contacts Ms. Apple
by July 20, 2007 with a request to present oral testimony at the
hearing, we will cancel the hearing.
Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the
www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such
as copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be
publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket
materials are available either electronically through
www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the EPA Docket Center, Public
Reading Room, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC. The Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30
p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal
[[Page 37583]]
holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is (202)
566-1744, and the telephone number for the Air Docket is (202) 566-
1742.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information concerning the CAA
section 183(e) consumer and commercial products program, contact Mr.
Bruce Moore, U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards,
Sector Policies and Programs Division, Natural Resources and Commerce
Group (E143-03), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711,
telephone number: (919) 541-5460, fax number (919) 541-3470, e-mail
address: moore.bruce@epa.gov. For further information on technical
issues concerning the proposed determination and draft CTG for paper,
film, and foil coatings, contact: Ms. Kim Teal, U.S. EPA, Office of Air
Quality Planning and Standards, Sector Policies and Programs Division,
Natural Resources and Commerce Group (E143-03), Research Triangle Park,
North Carolina 27711, telephone number: (919) 541-5580, e-mail address:
teal.kim@epa.gov. For further information on technical issues
concerning the proposed determination and draft CTG for metal furniture
coatings, contact: Ms. Martha Smith, U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality
Planning and Standards, Sector Policies and Programs Division, Natural
Resources and Commerce Group (E143-03), Research Triangle Park, North
Carolina 27711, telephone number: (919) 541-2421, e-mail address:
smith.martha@epa.gov. For further information on technical issues
concerning the proposed determination and draft CTG for large appliance
coatings, contact: Mr. Lynn Dail, U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality
Planning and Standards, Sector Policies and Programs Division, Natural
Resources and Commerce Group (E143-03), Research Triangle Park, North
Carolina 27711, telephone number: (919) 541-2363, e-mail address:
dail.lynn@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Entities Potentially Affected by this Action. The entities
potentially affected by this action include industrial facilities that
use the respective consumer and commercial products covered in this
action as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Examples of affected
Category NAICS code \a\ entities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paper, film, and foil 322221, 322222, Facilities that
coatings. 322223, 322224, apply coatings to
322225, 322226, packaging paper,
322229, 325992, paper bags,
326111, 326112, laminated aluminum
326113, 32613, foil, coated
32791, 339944. paperboard,
photographic film,
abrasives, carbon
paper, and other
coated paper, film
and foil products.
Metal furniture coatings.... 337124, 337214, Facilities that
337127, 337215, apply protective,
337127, 332951, decorative, or
332116, 332612, functional material
337215, 335121, to metal furniture
335122, 339111, components or
339114, 337127, products.
81142.
Large appliance coatings.... 335221, 335222, Facilities that
335224, 335228, apply coatings to
333312, 333319. household and
commercial cooking
equipment,
refrigerators,
laundry equipment,
laundry drycleaning
and pressing
equipment.
Federal Government.......... .................... Not affected.
State/local/tribal .................... State, local and
government. tribal regulatory
agencies.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ North American Industry Classification System.
This table is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a
guide for readers regarding entities likely to be affected by this
action. To determine whether your facility would be affected by this
action, you should examine the applicable industry description in
sections II.A, III.A, and IV.A of this notice. If you have any
questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular
entity, consult the appropriate EPA contact listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.
Preparation of Comments. Do not submit information containing CBI
to EPA through www.regulations.gov or e-mail. Send or deliver
information identified as CBI only to the following address: Mr.
Roberto Morales, OAQPS Document Control Officer (C404-02), U.S. EPA,
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Research Triangle Park,
North Carolina 27711, Attention: Docket ID EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0454, 0336,
0334, or 0329 (as applicable). Clearly mark the part or all of the
information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk or
CD-ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD-ROM as
CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD-ROM the
specific information that is claimed as CBI. In addition to one
complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as
CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information
claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket.
Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with
procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.
World Wide Web (WWW). In addition to being available in the docket,
an electronic copy of this proposed action will also be available on
the World Wide Web (WWW) through the Technology Transfer Network (TTN).
Following signature, a copy of the proposed action will be posted on
the TTN's policy and guidance page for newly proposed or promulgated
rules at the following address: https://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/. The TTN
provides information and technology exchange in various areas of air
pollution control.
Organization of this Document. The information presented in this
notice is organized as follows:
I. Background Information and Proposed Determination
A. The Ozone Problem
B. Statutory and Regulatory Background
C. Significance of CTGs
D. General Considerations in Determining Whether a CTG Will Be
Substantially as Effective as a Regulation
E. Proposed Determination
F. Availability of Documents
II. Paper, Film and Foil Coatings
A. Industry Characterization
B. Recommended Control Techniques
C. Impacts of Recommended Control Techniques
D. Considerations in Determining Whether a CTG Will Be
Substantially as Effective as a Regulation
III. Metal Furniture Coatings
A. Industry Characterization
B. Recommended Control Techniques
C. Impacts of Recommended Control Techniques
D. Considerations in Determining Whether a CTG Will Be
Substantially as Effective as a Regulation
IV. Large Appliance Coatings
A. Industry Characterization
B. Recommended Control Techniques
[[Page 37584]]
C. Impacts of Recommended Control Techniques
D. Considerations in Determining Whether a CTG Will Be
Substantially as Effective as a Regulation
V. Statutory and Executive Order (EO) Reviews
A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review
B. Paperwork Reduction Act
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With
Indian Tribal Governments
G. Executive Order: 13045: Protection of Children From
Environmental Health and Safety Risks
H. Executive Order 13211: Actions Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use
I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act
J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions to Address
Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income
Populations
I. Background Information and Proposed Determination
A. The Ozone Problem
Ground-level ozone, a major component of smog, is formed in the
atmosphere by reactions of VOC and oxides of nitrogen in the presence
of sunlight. The formation of ground-level ozone is a complex process
that is affected by many variables.
Exposure to ground-level ozone is associated with a wide variety of
human health effects, as well as agricultural crop loss, and damage to
forests and ecosystems. Controlled human exposure studies show that
acute health effects are induced by short-term (1 to 2 hour) exposures
(observed at concentrations as low as 0.12 parts per million (ppm)),
generally while individuals are engaged in moderate or heavy exertion,
and by prolonged (6 to 8 hour) exposures to ozone (observed at
concentrations as low as 0.08 ppm and possibly lower), typically while
individuals are engaged in moderate exertion. Transient effects from
acute exposures include pulmonary inflammation, respiratory symptoms,
effects on exercise performance, and increased airway responsiveness.
Epidemiological studies have shown associations between ambient ozone
levels and increased susceptibility to respiratory infection, increased
hospital admissions and emergency room visits. Groups at increased risk
of experiencing elevated exposures include active children, outdoor
workers, and others who regularly engage in outdoor activities. Those
most susceptible to the effects of ozone include those with preexisting
respiratory disease, children, and older adults. The literature
suggests the possibility that long-term exposures to ozone may cause
chronic health effects (e.g., structural damage to lung tissue and
accelerated decline in baseline lung function).
B. Statutory and Regulatory Background
Under section 183(e) of the CAA, EPA conducted a study of VOC
emissions from the use of consumer and commercial products to assess
their potential to contribute to levels of ozone that violate the
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone, and to
establish criteria for regulating VOC emissions from these products.
Section 183(e) of the CAA directs EPA to list for regulation those
categories of products that account for at least 80 percent of the VOC
emissions, on a reactivity-adjusted basis, from consumer and commercial
products in areas that violate the NAAQS for ozone (i.e., ozone
nonattainment areas), and to divide the list of categories to be
regulated into four groups. EPA published the initial list in the
Federal Register on March 23, 1995 (60 FR 15264). In that notice, EPA
stated that it may amend the list of products for regulation, and the
groups of product categories, in order to achieve an effective
regulatory program in accordance with the Agency's discretion under CAA
section 183(e).
EPA has revised the list several times. See 70 FR 69759 (Nov. 17,
2005); 64 FR 13422 (Mar. 18, 1999). Most recently, in May 2006, EPA
revised the list to add one product category, portable fuel containers,
and to remove one product category, petroleum dry cleaning solvents.
See 71 FR 28320 (May 16, 2006). As a result of these revisions, Group
III of the list comprises five product categories: Portable fuel
containers; aerosol spray paints; paper, film, and foil coatings; metal
furniture coatings; and large appliance coatings. The portable fuel
containers \2\ and aerosol spray paints categories are addressed in
separate rulemaking actions \3\; the remaining three categories are the
subject of this action.
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\2\ EPA promulgated a national regulation for VOC emissions from
portable fuel containers on February 26, 2007 (72 FR 8428). National
VOC emission standards for aerosol coatings currently are under
development.
\3\ Pursuant to the court's order in Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:01-
cv-01597-PLF (D.C. Cir., March 31, 2006), EPA must take final action
on the product categories in Group III by September 30, 2007.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Any regulations issued under section CAA 183(e) must be based on
``best available controls'' (BAC). CAA section 183(e)(1)(A) defines BAC
as ``the degree of emissions reduction that the Administrator
determines, on the basis of technological and economic feasibility,
health, environmental, and energy impacts, is achievable through the
application of the most effective equipment, measures, processes,
methods, systems or techniques, including chemical reformulation,
product or feedstock substitution, repackaging, and directions for use,
consumption, storage, or disposal.'' CAA section 183(e) also provides
EPA with authority to use any system or systems of regulation that EPA
determines is the most appropriate for the product category. Under
these provisions, EPA has previously issued ``national'' regulations
for architectural and industrial maintenance coatings, autobody
refinishing coatings, consumer products, and portable fuel
containers.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ See 63 FR 48792, 48819, and 48848 (September 11, 1998); and
72 FR 8428 (February 26, 2007).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAA section 183(e)(3)(C) further provides that EPA may issue a CTG
in lieu of a national regulation for a product category where EPA
determines that the CTG will be ``substantially as effective as
regulations'' in reducing emissions of VOC in ozone nonattainment
areas. The statute does not specify how EPA is to make this
determination, but does provide a fundamental distinction between
national regulations and CTGs.
Specifically, for national regulations, CAA section 183(e) defines
regulated entities as:
(i) * * * manufacturers, processors, wholesale distributors, or
importers of consumer or commercial products for sale or
distribution in interstate commerce in the United States; or (ii)
manufacturers, processors, wholesale distributors, or importers that
supply the entities listed under clause (i) with such products for
sale or distribution in interstate commerce in the United States.
Thus, under CAA section 183(e), a regulation for consumer or
commercial products is limited to measures applicable to manufacturers,
processors, distributors, or importers of the solvents, materials, or
products supplied to the consumer or industry. CAA section 183(e) does
not authorize EPA to issue national regulations that would directly
regulate end-users of these products. By contrast, CTGs are guidance
documents that recommend reasonably available control technology (RACT)
measures that States can adopt and apply to the end users of products.
This dichotomy (i.e., that EPA cannot directly regulate end-users under
CAA section 183(e), but can address end-users through a CTG) created by
[[Page 37585]]
Congress is relevant to EPA's evaluation of the relative merits of a
national regulation versus a CTG.
C. Significance of CTGs
CAA section 172(c)(1) provides that state implementation plans
(SIPs) for nonattainment areas must include ``reasonably available
control measures'' (RACM), including RACT, for sources of emissions.
Section 182(b)(2) provides that States must revise their ozone SIPs to
include RACT for each category of VOC sources covered by any CTG
document issued after November 15, 1990, and prior to the date of
attainment. Those ozone nonattainment areas that are subject to CAA
section 172(c)(1) and submit an attainment demonstration seeking more
than 5 years from the date of designation to attain must also meet the
requirements of CAA section 182(b)(2) and revise their ozone SIPs in
response to any CTG issued after November 15, 1990, and prior to the
date of attainment. Other ozone nonattainment areas subject to CAA
section 172(c)(1) may take action in response to this guidance, as
necessary to attain.
EPA defines RACT as ``the lowest emission limitation that a
particular source is capable of meeting by the application of control
technology that is reasonably available considering technological and
economic feasibility, 44 FR 53761 (Sept. 17, 1979).'' In subsequent
notices, EPA has addressed how states can meet the RACT requirements of
the Act. Significantly, RACT for a particular industry is determined on
a case-by-case basis, considering issues of technological and economic
feasibility.
EPA provides States with guidance concerning what types of controls
could constitute RACT for a given source category through issuance of a
CTG. The recommendations in the CTG are based on available data and
information and may not apply to a particular situation based upon the
circumstances. States can follow the CTG and adopt State regulations to
implement the recommendations contained therein, or they can adopt
alternative approaches. In either event, States must submit their RACT
rules to EPA for review and approval as part of the SIP process. EPA
will evaluate the rules and determine, through notice and comment
rulemaking in the SIP process, whether they meet the RACT requirements
of the Act and EPA's regulations. To the extent a State adopts any of
the recommendations in a CTG into its State RACT rules, interested
parties can raise questions and objections about the substance of the
guidance and the appropriateness of the application of the guidance to
a particular situation during the development of the State rules and
EPA's SIP approval process.
We encourage States in developing their RACT rules to consider
carefully the facts and circumstances of the particular sources in
their States because, as noted above, RACT is determined on a case-by-
case basis, considering issues of technological and economic
feasibility. For example, a state may decide not to require 90 percent
control efficiency at facilities that are already well controlled, if
the additional emission reductions would not be cost-effective. States
may also want to consider reactivity-based approaches, as appropriate,
in developing their RACT regulations.\5\ Finally, if States consider
requiring more stringent VOC content limits than those recommended in
the draft CTGs, states may also wish to consider averaging, as
appropriate. In general, the RACT requirement is applied on a short-
term basis up to 24 hours.\6\ However, EPA guidance permits averaging
times longer than 24 hours under certain conditions.\7\ The EPA's
``Economic Incentive Policy'' \8\ provides guidance on use of long-term
averages with regard to RACT and generally provides for averaging times
of no greater than 30 days. Thus, if the appropriate conditions are
present, States may consider the use of averaging in conjunction with
more stringent limits. Because of the nature of averaging, however, we
would expect that any State RACT Rules that allow for averaging also
include appropriate recordkeeping and reporting requirements.
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\5\ ``Interim Guidance on Control of Volatile Organic Compounds
in Ozone State Implementation Plans,'' 70 FR 54046 (September 13,
2005).
\6\ See, e.g., 52 FR at 45108, col. 2, ``Compliance Periods''
(November 24, 1987). ``VOC rules should describe explicitly the
compliance timeframe associated with each emission limit (e.g.,
instantaneous or daily). However, where the rules are silent on
compliance time, EPA will interpret it as instantaneous.''
\7\ Memorandum from John O'Connor, Acting Director of the Office
of Air Quality Planning and Standards, January 20, 1984, ``Averaging
Times for Compliance with VOC Emission Limits--SIP Revision
Policy.''
\8\ ``Improving Air Quality with Economic Incentive Programs,
January 2001,'' available at https://www.epa.gov/region07/programs/
artd/air/policy/search.htm.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
By this action, we are making available draft CTGs that cover three
product categories in Group III of the CAA section 183(e) list. These
CTGs are guidance to the States and provide recommendations only. A
State can develop its own strategy for what constitutes RACT for these
three product categories, and EPA will review that strategy in the
context of the SIP process and determine whether it meets the RACT
requirements of the Act and its implementing regulations.
Finally, CAA section 182(b)(2) provides that a CTG issued after
1990 specify the date by which a State must submit a SIP revision in
response to the CTG. In the draft CTGs at issue here, EPA provides that
States should submit their SIP revisions within 1 year of the date that
the CTGs are finalized.
D. General Considerations in Determining Whether a CTG Will Be
Substantially as Effective as a Regulation
CAA Section 183(e)(3)(C) authorizes EPA to issue a CTG in lieu of a
regulation for a category of consumer and commercial products if a CTG
``will be substantially as effective as regulations in reducing VOC
emissions'' in ozone nonattainment areas. The statute does not specify
how EPA is to make this determination.
On July 13, 1999 (64 FR 37773), EPA issued a final determination
pursuant to CAA section 183(e)(3)(C), concluding that CTGs for wood
furniture coatings, aerospace coatings, and shipbuilding and repair
coatings were substantially as effective as national regulations in
reducing emissions of VOC from these products in areas that violate the
NAAQS for ozone. On October 5, 2006 (71 FR 58745), EPA issued a similar
final determination for flexible packaging printing materials,
lithographic printing materials, letterpress printing materials,
industrial cleaning solvents, and flat wood paneling coatings.
Recognizing that the statute does not specify any criteria for making a
determination under CAA section 183(e)(3)(C), EPA, in 1999 and 2006,
considered several relevant factors, including: (1) The product's
distribution and place of use; (2) the most effective entity to target
to control emissions--in other words, whether it is more effective to
achieve VOC reductions at the point of manufacture of the product or at
the point of use of the product; (3) consistency with other VOC control
strategies; and (4) estimates of likely VOC emission reductions in
ozone nonattainment areas which would result from the regulation or
CTG. EPA believes that these factors are useful for evaluating whether
the rule or CTG approach would be best from the perspective of
implementation and enforcement of an effective strategy to achieve the
intended VOC emission reductions. As we consider other product
categories in the current and
[[Page 37586]]
future phases of regulation under CAA section 183(e), there may be
other factors that are relevant to the CAA section 183(e)(3)(C)
determination for given product categories. EPA believes that in making
these determinations, no single factor is dispositive. On the contrary,
for each product category, we must weigh the factors and make our
determination based on the unique set of facts and circumstances
associated with that product category. For purposes of making the
determination, EPA analyzed the components of the draft CTGs for the
product categories at issue and compared the draft CTGs to the types of
controls and emission strategies possible through a regulation. As we
explained in 1999, it would be unreasonable for EPA, in effect, to have
to complete both the full rulemaking and full CTG development processes
before being able to make a determination under CAA section
183(e)(3)(C) validly. EPA believes that it is possible for the Agency
to make a determination between what a rule might reasonably be
expected to achieve versus what a CTG might reasonably be expected to
achieve, without having to complete the entire rulemaking and CTG
processes. To conclude otherwise would result in unnecessary wasting of
limited time and resources by the Agency and the stakeholders
participating in the processes. Moreover, such an approach would be
directly contrary to CAA section 183(e)(3)(C), which authorizes EPA to
issue a CTG in lieu of a regulation if it determines that the CTG
``will be substantially as effective as'' a regulation in reducing VOC
emissions in ozone nonattainment areas.
With regard to the three product categories at issue here, EPA
notes that it does not have reliable quantitative data that would
enable it to conduct a ton-by-ton comparison of the likely emission
reductions associated with a national regulation versus a CTG. Although
we conducted such a comparative analysis in 1999 for the product
categories of wood furniture coatings, aerospace coatings and
shipbuilding and repair coatings, (64 FR 37773, July 13, 1999), such
analysis is not necessary for evaluating likely VOC emission
reductions, particularly, where, as in our Group II action (71 FR
58745, October 5, 2006) and here, a CTG can achieve significant
emission reductions from end-users of the consumer and/or commercial
products at issue, which cannot be achieved through regulation under
CAA section 183(e). In addition, for the reasons described below, a
regulation governing the manufacturers and suppliers of these products
would be unlikely to achieve the objective of reducing VOC emissions
from these products in ozone nonattainment areas.
E. Proposed Determination
Based on the factors identified above and the facts and
circumstances associated with each of the Group III product categories,
EPA proposes to determine that CTGs for paper, film, and foil coatings;
metal furniture coatings; and large appliance coatings will be
substantially as effective as national regulations in reducing VOC
emissions from facilities located in ozone nonattainment areas.
In each of the three product category sections below, we provide a
general description of the industry, identify the sources of VOC
emissions associated with the industry, summarize the recommended
control techniques in the draft CTG and describe the impacts of those
techniques, and discuss the considerations supporting our proposed
determination under CAA section 183(e)(3)(C) that a CTG will be
substantially as effective as a regulation in reducing VOC emissions in
ozone nonattainment areas from the product category at issue.
The specific subsections below that address our proposed
determination for each product category are organized into two parts,
each of which addresses two of the factors relevant to the CAA section
183(e)(1)(C) determination. The first part addresses whether it is more
effective to target the point of manufacture of the product or the
point of use for purposes of reducing VOC emissions and discusses
whether our proposed approach is consistent with existing Federal,
State and local VOC reduction strategies. The second part addresses the
product's distribution and place of use and discusses the likely VOC
emission reductions associated with a CTG, as compared to a regulation.
Finally, we propose to find that these three product categories are
appropriate for inclusion on the CAA section 183(e) list in accordance
with the factors and criteria that EPA used to develop the original
list. See Consumer and Commercial Products: Schedule for Regulation, 60
FR 15264 (Mar. 23, 1995).
F. Availability of Documents
EPA has prepared draft CTG documents covering the three consumer
and commercial products source categories addressed in this action.
Each of the draft CTGs addresses, among other things, RACT
recommendations, cost impacts, and existing Federal, state and local
VOC control strategies. These draft CTGs are available for public
comment and are contained in the respective dockets listed in the
ADDRESSES section of this notice.
II. Paper, Film, and Foil Coatings
A. Industry Characterization
1. Source Category Description
This category of consumer and commercial products includes the
coatings that are applied to paper, film, and foil in manufacturing
products for the following industry sectors: Pressure sensitive tapes
and labels, photographic film; industrial and decorative laminates; and
flexible packaging.\9\ The category also includes coatings applied
during miscellaneous paper, film, and foil surface coating operations
for several products including: corrugated and solid fiber boxes; die-
cut paper, paperboard, and cardboard; converted paper and paperboard,
not elsewhere classified; folding paperboard boxes, including sanitary
boxes; manifold business forms and related products; plastic aseptic
packaging; and carbon paper and inked ribbons. Paper, film, and foil
surface coating can be described as a web coating process, which is a
process that applies a continuous layer of coating material across the
entire width or any portion of the width of a web substrate for any of
the following reasons: (1) To provide a covering, finish, or functional
or protective layer to a substrate; (2) to saturate a substrate for
lamination; or (3) to provide adhesion between two substrates for
lamination. The web coating operations and emission control techniques
do not vary significantly among the sectors of the paper, film, and
foil industry.
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\9\ Coating performed on or in-line with any offset
lithographic, screen, letterpress, flexographic, rotogravure, or
digital printing press is not part of the paper, film and foil
coating category. The application of inks, coatings and adhesives on
or in-line with rotogravure or flexographic printing presses used in
the production of flexible packaging is addressed in the CTG for
Flexible Package Printing (EPA 453/R-06-003, September 2006). The
application of inks, coatings and adhesives on or in-line with
publication rotogravure printing presses is addressed in the CTG for
Graphic Arts: Rotogravure and Flexography (EPA 450/2-78-033). The
application of inks, coatings and adhesives on or in-line with
offset lithographic or letterpress printing presses is addressed in
the CTG for Offset Lithographic Printing and Letterpress Printing
(EPA 453/R-06-002, September 2006).
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2. Processes, Sources of VOC Emissions, and Controls
The coatings and cleaning materials \10\ used in paper, film, and
foil surface
[[Page 37587]]
coating operations are sources of VOC emissions. The coating line is
the main source of VOC emissions. The remaining emissions are
principally from cleaning operations. VOC emissions from surface
preparation, solvent handling and storage, and waste/wastewater
operations are small. The following discussion describes the sources of
VOC from the coatings and cleaning materials.
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\10\ In a previous notice, EPA identified specific categories,
including paper, film, and foil coating, the cleaning operations of
which would not be covered by EPA's 2006 CTG for industrial cleaning
solvents (71 FR 44522, 44540 (2006)). In the notice, EPA expressed
its intention to address cleaning operations associated with these
categories in the CTGs for these specified categories if the Agency
determines that a CTG is appropriate for the respective categories.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The VOC in coatings are emitted from the coating line. In general,
a coating line consists of a series of one or more unwind/feed
stations; one or more coating applicators; one or more flash-off areas
(the area between two consecutive coating applicators or between a
coating applicator and a drying oven); one or more drying ovens; and
one or more rewind/cutting stations. The majority, usually greater than
90 percent, of the VOC in the coatings volatilizes in the drying ovens.
A smaller amount of VOC in the coatings volatilizes at the coating
applicator and flash-off area. The amount of VOC emitted from coatings
varies depending on the type of coatings being used. The types of
coatings used in the paper, film, and foil surface coating industry
include solvent-borne and waterborne coatings, as well as radiation-
cure coatings, hot-melt adhesives and other 100 percent solids
coatings.
Solvent-borne coatings are widely used in the paper, film, and foil
surface coating industry. Solvent-borne coating formulations typically
range from 40 to 80 percent solvents by weight, as supplied by the
manufacturer. The solvent-borne coatings may be diluted by the users
with additional solvents prior to being used. The primary solvents in
solvent-borne coatings include methanol, methyl ethyl ketone, toluene,
and xylene. A significant part of the volatiles in waterborne coating
is water, although some VOC-containing solvents may be used at up to 30
percent of the volatiles. Most coating equipment used for solvent-borne
coatings can also be used for waterborne coatings.
Radiation cure coatings, hot-melt adhesives and other 100 percent
solids coatings such as wax coatings, wax laminations, extrusion
coatings, extrusion laminations, and cold seal coatings typically
contain no solvent. Accordingly, these coatings emit very little VOC.
More information on coatings is provided in the draft CTG.
Common techniques to reduce emissions from paper, film, and foil
coatings include the use of low-VOC content coatings and the operation
of add-on control systems where low-VOC content coatings cannot be used
due to performance requirements calling for higher VOC coatings. An
add-on control system consists of a capture system and a control
device. The majority of VOC emissions from paper, film and foil coating
occur in the drying oven. These emissions can be ducted from the drying
oven directly to a control device. The drying oven is therefore
typically the principal element of the capture system. In addition,
hoods, floor sweeps or enclosures can be used to collect VOC emissions
that occur in the coating application and flash-off areas, and route
them to a control device.
The most common add-on controls in use at paper, film, and foil
surface coating facilities are thermal oxidizers and carbon adsorbers,
both of which achieve greater than 90 percent control.
The design of the capture system and the choice of the control
device can greatly contribute to the overall VOC control efficiency,
which is a combination of both capture and control efficiency. Please
see the draft CTG for further detailed descriptions of add-on controls
and capture systems that we reviewed in developing the draft CTG.
As previously mentioned, another source of VOC emissions from
paper, film, and foil surface coating operations is cleaning materials.
Cleaning materials are used for several purposes, including washing
equipment, removing residues from coating applicators, and cleaning
spray guns. These materials are typically mixtures of organic solvents
and represent less than 2 percent of the VOC emissions from paper,
film, and foil surface coating operations. Work practices are widely
used throughout the paper, film, and foil surface coating industry as a
means of reducing VOC emissions from the cleaning materials during
cleaning operations. These measures include covering cleaning material
mixing tanks; storing cleaning solvents and solvent-soaked rags and
wipes in closed containers; and cleaning spray guns in an enclosed
system. Another means of reducing VOC emission from paper, film, and
foil cleaning materials is the use of low-VOC content or low vapor
pressure cleaning materials. Within the industry, there are controlled
cleaning operations where cleaning is automated, enclosed and vented to
a control device. Use of recycled solvents for cleaning is also typical
in the industry.
3. Existing Federal, State and Local VOC Control Strategies
There are three previous EPA actions that affect paper, film, and
foil surface coating operations. In 1977, EPA issued a CTG document
entitled ``Control of Volatile Organic Emissions from Existing
Stationary Sources--Volume II: Surface Coating of Cans, Coils, Paper,
Fabrics, Automobiles, and Light-Duty Trucks'' (EPA-450/2-77-008) (1977
CTG). The 1977 CTG provided RACT recommendations for controlling VOC
emissions from paper coating and fabric \11\ coating operations. The
1977 CTG recommended RACT for paper coating as 0.35 kilogram/liter (kg/
l) (2.9 pound/gallon (lb/gal)) of coating, excluding water and exempt
compounds, as applied. These recommended limits were based on the use
of conventional solvent-borne coatings and oxidation of the dryer oven
exhaust which achieved an overall VOC control efficiency of 81 percent.
These recommended limits were expressed in terms of a compliant
coating's VOC content to encourage the development and use of low-VOC
content coatings. Equivalent solids-based limits were presented in ``A
Guideline for Surface Coating Calculations'' (EPA-340/1-86-016). For
paper coating, the equivalent limit was 0.58 kg/l (4.8 lb/gal) of
solids. These equivalent limits were calculated using an assumed VOC
density of 0.88 kg/l (7.36 lb/gal). This assumed VOC density is the
same as that used in calculating the limits recommended in the 1977
CTG.
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\11\ Fabric coating operations for use in pressure sensitive
tape and abrasive materials are included under paper, film, and foil
surface coating.
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In 1983, EPA promulgated new source performance standards (NSPS)
for pressure sensitive tape and label surface coating operations (40
CFR part 60 subpart RR).\12\ The 1983 NSPS differs from the 1977 CTG in
that it only applies to pressure sensitive tape and label surface
coating lines. The 1983 NSPS emission limits do not apply to pressure
sensitive tape and label surface coating operations that input 45
megagrams/year (Mg/yr) (50 tons per year (tpy)) or less VOC into the
coating process (other requirements such as recordkeeping and reporting
do apply). The 1983 NSPS requires a 90 percent reduction of VOC
emission. Alternatively it establishes an emission limit of 0.20 kg
VOC/kg (0.20 lb VOC/lb) solids applied based on VOC emission reduction
of 90 percent.
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\12\ The 1983 NSPS applies to sources that commenced
construction, reconstruction, or modification after December 30,
1980.
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[[Page 37588]]
In 2002, EPA promulgated the National Emission Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP): Paper and Other Web Coating (POWC),
40 CFR part 63 subpart JJJJ, which applies to paper, film, and foil
surface coating as well as other coating operations. The 2002 NESHAP
addresses organic hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions, including
VOC HAP emissions, from all web coating lines at a paper, film, and
foil surface coating facility.
The 2002 NESHAP has different emission limitations for sources that
commenced construction or reconstruction on or before September 13,
2000 (existing sources), and sources that commenced construction or
reconstruction after September 13, 2000 (new sources). The 2002 NESHAP
emission limits for existing sources and new sources are based on
overall HAP control efficiencies of 95 percent and 98 percent,
respectively (65 FR 55334).
The 1977 CTG, the 1983 NSPS, and the 2002 NESHAP are further
discussed in the current draft CTG document.
In addition to the EPA actions mentioned above, at least 44 State
and several local jurisdictions have regulations that affect VOC
emissions from paper, film, and foil surface coating. Fourteen local
jurisdictions in California have generic surface coating rules. These
generic surface coating rules regulate all machinery with the potential
to emit organic compounds.
All 44 of the States and 6 of the California jurisdictions have
regulations that address all or part of the paper, film, and foil
surface coating industry. The regulations in these State and local
jurisdictions cover the coating lines. Generally, these regulations
establish emission limits and allow compliance with the limits to be
demonstrated by using low-VOC content coatings or add-on control
systems in conjunction with higher-VOC content coatings.
Almost all of the jurisdictions that specifically address all or
part of the paper, film, and foil surface coating industry have adopted
the recommended VOC emission limits in the 1977 CTG. However, there are
fourteen jurisdictions that have more stringent requirements than the
1977 CTG. These jurisdictions allow compliance either using compliant
coatings, or by using an add-on control system. Seven jurisdictions
have VOC emission limits that are more stringent than the 1977 CTG,
five in California and two in Illinois. The California jurisdictions
limit VOC emissions to 265 g/l (2.2 lb/gal) of coating, excluding water
and exempt compounds, as applied. The two jurisdictions in Illinois
limit VOC emissions to 0.28 kg/l (2.3 lb/gal) of coating, excluding
water and exempt compounds, as applied. As an alternative to the VOC
emission limits the California and Illinois jurisdictions allow
facilities to install capture systems and control devices to reduce VOC
emissions from these coating operations. The required overall emission
reduction, including capture and control efficiency, ranges from 55
percent to 90 percent. Specifically, the San Diego County Air Pollution
Control District (San Diego) and the Ventura County Air Pollution
Control District (Ventura) both require an overall control efficiency
of 90 percent. Finally, there are seven jurisdictions that have VOC
emission limits that are the same as the 1977 CTG. However, these
jurisdictions require 95 percent emission reduction as an alternative
to the VOC emission limit. The 95 percent overall control efficiency is
the most stringent and likely can only be met with a permanent total
enclosure that achieves 100 percent capture efficiency. A detailed
summary of the State and local regulations is presented in the draft
CTG.
Several jurisdictions in California have requirements to regulate
the VOC content of cleaning materials used in the paper, film and foil
surface coating industry. These regulations are aimed at reducing VOC
emissions from cleaning materials by combining work practice standards
with limits on the VOC content or composite vapor pressure of the
solvent being used. In some cases, the jurisdictions allow the use of
add-on controls as an alternative to the VOC content/vapor pressure
limits. The different air pollution control authorities in California
have established similar work practice standards. However, the cleaning
material VOC content/vapor pressure limits vary by jurisdiction, as do
the overall control efficiency required when add-on controls are used
as an alternative.
There are 10 States that have cleaning material regulations that
apply to paper, film, and foil surface coating operations. Of these, 9
States do not limit the VOC content/vapor pressure of cleaning
materials. Instead, they have established equipment standards, work
practices, and/or recordkeeping requirements. There is one State that
requires work practices as well as limiting the vapor pressure of the
cleaning materials. The cleaning material regulations are summarized in
detail in the draft CTG.
B. Recommended Control Techniques
The draft CTG recommends certain control techniques for reducing
VOC emissions from paper, film, and foil coatings and cleaning
materials. As explained in the draft CTG, we are recommending these
control options for facilities whose paper, film, and foil surface
coating operations emit 6.8 kg VOC/day (15 lb VOC/day or 3 tons VOC/
year) or more before the consideration of control. We do not recommend
these control approaches for facilities that emit below this level
because of the very small VOC emission reductions that can be achieved.
The recommended threshold level is equivalent to the evaporation of
approximately 2 gallons of solvent per day. Such a level is considered
to be an incidental level of solvent usage that could be expected even
in facilities that use very low-VOC content coatings, such as
ultraviolet (UV) cure coatings. Furthermore, based on the 2002 NEI data
and the 2004 ozone nonattainment designations, facilities emitting
below the recommended threshold level collectively emit less than 2
percent of the total reported VOC emissions from paper, film, and foil
coating facilities in ozone nonattainment areas. For these reasons, we
did not extend our recommendations in the draft CTG to these low
emitting facilities. For purposes of determining whether a facility
meets the above recommended threshold, aggregate emissions from all
paper, film, and foil surface coating operations and related cleaning
activities at a given facility are included. This recommended threshold
is also consistent with our recommendations in many previous CTGs.
We nevertheless solicit comment on the above proposed applicability
threshold of the coating and cleaning recommendations in the draft CTG
for paper, film, and foil coating facilities. We specifically solicit
comment on whether there are small operations emitting at or
immediately above the proposed threshold and how many of these
facilities exist. If information is provided during the comment period
indicating that there are many small operations emitting at and/or
immediately above the proposed threshold, we may consider modifying the
recommended threshold. We specifically solicit comment on whether a
slightly higher threshold of 12.3 kg VOC/day (27 lb VOC/day or 5 tons
VOC/year) would be more appropriate for this category, and we solicit
data and analyses supporting such a threshold.
Coating performed on or in-line with any offset lithographic,
screen, letterpress, flexographic, rotogravure, or digital printing
press is not subject to the recommendations in the draft CTG. Printing,
coating and laminating
[[Page 37589]]
performed on or in-line with such presses is addressed in other CTGs.
1. Coatings
Coatings are defined in the draft CTG as material applied onto or
impregnated into a substrate for decorative, protective, or functional
purposes. Such materials include, but are not limited to, solvent-borne
coatings, waterborne coatings, adhesives, wax coatings, wax
laminations, extrusion coatings, extrusion laminations, 100 percent
solid adhesives, UV cured coatings, electron beam cured coatings, hot
melt coatings, and cold seal coatings. Materials used to form
unsupported substrates, such as calendaring of vinyl, blown film, cast
film, extruded film, and co-extruded film, are not considered coatings.
In the draft CTG, we recommend an overall VOC control efficiency of
90 percent for each paper, film, and foil surface coating line.\13\
This emission reduction is based on the San Diego and Ventura levels of
control, as well as the 1983 NSPS. As an alternative, we recommend VOC
content based emission limits that are equivalent to 90 percent overall
control. Specifically, we recommend the ``as-applied'' VOC limits of
0.40 kg VOC/kg (0.40 lb VOC/lb) solids applied and 0.08 kg VOC/kg (0.08
lb VOC/lb) coating for this product category except for pressure
sensitive tape and label surface coating lines. The derivation of these
limits is discussed in detail in the draft CTG.
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\13\ We are defining a paper, film, and foil surface coating
line as a series of coating applicator(s), flash-off area(s), and
any associated curing/drying equipment between one or more an unwind
(or feed) stations and one or more rewind (or cutting) stations.
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For pressure sensitive tape and label surface coating lines, we
recommend 0.20 kg VOC/kg (0.20 lb VOC/lb) solids applied, which is
based on 90 percent control efficiency. We also recommend an equivalent
value of 0.067 kg VOC/kg (0.067 lb VOC/lb) coating. The development of
the recommended limitations is presented in more detail in the draft
CTG.
2. Cleaning Materials
The draft CTG recommends work practices to reduce VOC emissions
from cleaning materials used in paper, film, and foil surface coating
operations. Specifically, we recommend the following work practices:
(1) Store all VOC-containing cleaning materials and used shop towels in
closed containers; (2) ensure that mixing and storage containers used
for VOC-containing cleaning materials are kept closed at all times
except when depositing or removing these materials; (3) minimize spills
of VOC-containing cleaning materials; (4) convey VOC-containing
cleaning materials from one location to another in closed containers or
pipes; and (5) minimize VOC emissions from cleaning of storage, mixing,
and conveying equipment.
C. Impacts of Recommended Control Techniques
Based on the 2002 NEI database, we estimate that there are a total
of 474 paper, film, and foil surface coating facilities located in
ozone nonattainment areas (using April 2004 designations). As
previously mentioned, we are recommending the control options described
in this draft CTG apply to facilities in ozone nonattainment areas that
emit 6.8 kg/day (15 lb/day) or more of VOC. Based on VOC emissions data
in the 2002 NEI database, 251 of the facilities in ozone nonattainment
areas emit VOC at or above this level.
Although there is limited cost information available, we believe
that the cost estimates and other related studies developed for the
2002 NESHAP are appropriate for estimating the cost impact of our
recommendations in the draft CTG for the following reasons. The
recommended level of control in the draft CTG covers the same processes
as the 2002 NESHAP (i.e., all coating applicators and any associated
drying/curing equipment between the unwind/feed station and the rewind/
cutting station). In addition, the annual costs estimates developed for
the 2002 NESHAP were based on the use of thermal oxidizers to control
HAP emissions and these oxidizers achieve the same level of control for
VOC. Finally, both the 2002 NESHAP emission limits and the limits
recommended in the draft CTG can be met by the same options (i.e., use
of low-VOC content coatings or add-on control systems when high-VOC
content coatings are used).
According to studies performed for the development of the 2002
NESHAP, 47 percent of the existing facilities would be subject to the
2002 NESHAP. To estimate the costs associated with the add-on control
recommendation in the draft CTG, we assumed that all facilities subject
to the NESHAP (i.e., 47 percent of the facilities in the 2002 NEI
database (119 facilities)) are currently in compliance with the NESHAP.
We assume that facilities already in compliance with the 2002 NESHAP
would not be required to upgrade or install capture and/or thermal
oxidizers to achieve the emission reduction recommended in the draft
CTG and therefore would have no additional annual costs associated with
the draft CTG.
We estimated that the nationwide emission reduction would be 20,000
Mg/yr (22,000 tpy) and nationwide total annual costs were $26 million
per year, resulting in cost effectiveness of $1,320 per Mg ($1,200 per
ton). These costs represent worst-case costs, using thermal oxidizers.
Other control options (i.e., carbon adsorbers or solvent recovery
systems) can be expected to have lower costs.
We believe that our work practice recommendations in the draft CTG
will result in a net cost savings. Implementing work practices reduce
the amount cleaning materials used by reducing the amount that
evaporates and is wasted.
D. Considerations in Determining Whether a CTG Will Be Substantially as
Effective as a Regulation
In determining whether to issue a national rule or a CTG for the
paper, film, and foil coatings product category under CAA section
183(e)(3)(C), we analyzed the four factors identified in Section I.D of
this notice in light of the specific facts and circumstances associated
with this product category. Based on that analysis, we propose to
determine that a CTG will be substantially as effective as a rule in
achieving VOC emission reductions in ozone nonattainment areas from
paper, film, and foil surface coating operations.
As noted above, this section is divided into two parts, each of
which addresses two of the factors relevant to the CAA section
183(e)(1)(C) determination. In the first part, we discuss our belief
that the most effective means of achieving VOC emission reductions in
this category is through controls at the point of use of the product
(i.e., through controls on the use of coatings at facilities that apply
surface coatings to paper, film, and foil products), and this can only
be accomplished through a CTG. We further explain that the approaches
in the draft CTG are consistent with existing effective Federal, State
and local VOC control strategies. In the second part, we discuss how
the distribution and place of use of the products in this category also
support the use of a CTG. We also discuss the likely VOC emission
reductions associated with a CTG, as compared to a regulation. We
further explain that there are control approaches for this category
that result in significant VOC emission reductions and that such
reductions could only be obtained by controlling the use of the
products through a CTG. Such reductions could
[[Page 37590]]
not be obtained through a regulation under CAA section 183(e) because
the controls affect the end-user, which cannot be a regulated entity
under CAA section 183(e)(1)(C). For these reasons, which are described
more fully below, we believe that a CTG will achieve greater VOC
emission reductions than a rule for this category.
1. The Most Effective Entity To Target for VOC Reductions and
Consistency With State and Local VOC Strategies
To evaluate the most effective entity to target for VOC reductions,
it is important to first identify the primary sources of VOC emissions.
There are two main sources of VOC emissions from paper, film, and foil
surface coating operations: (1) Evaporation of VOC from coatings; and
(2) evaporation of VOC from cleaning materials. We address each of
these sources of VOC emissions in turn below as we discuss the CTG
versus regulation approach.
a. Coatings
A national rule could contain limits for the as-sold VOC content of
paper, film, and foil coatings. However, given the nature of the paper,
film, and foil surface coating process, we believe that such a rule
would result in little reduction in VOC emissions.
Although significant amounts of low-VOC content coatings are
currently being used for paper, film, and foil surface coating, they
cannot replace the traditional solvent-born
