March 6, 2009
Agency is First in the Nation to Adopt a Rule That Reduces Smog-Forming
Ingredients in Consumer Paint Thinners
Governing Board Members from the South Coast Air Quality Management District
took a critical step today in adopting a rule that will significantly reduce
smog-forming emissions from paint thinners and solvents used by consumers.
Consumer products, which include everything from nail polish to floor wax,
emit more than 110 tons per day of smog-forming volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
in the Southland. Consumer products are the largest source of VOCs in the
region, eclipsing cars, trucks or industry.
“This rule, a first in the nation, is going to significantly benefit all of
us who live and breathe in the greater Los Angeles Basin,” said AQMD
Governing Board Chairman William A. Burke, Ed.D. “In less than two years,
the rule will have reduced VOC pollution by up to 9.75 tons per day. That is
the equal to shutting down all seven major oil refineries in Los Angeles
County!”
Consumers should not notice any difference in the performance of low-VOC
paint thinners and solvents.
Rule 1143 – Reduction of VOC Emissions from Consumer Paint Thinners and
Multi-Purpose Solvents establishes an interim VOC limit of 300 grams/liter
(g/l,) effective January 1, 2010, and a VOC limit of 25 g/l effective
January 1, 2011, for all consumer paint thinners and multi-purpose solvents.
It also establishes labeling requirements.
Products manufactured prior to the effective date of Jan. 1, 2010 could be
sold for one year thereafter. This rule affects approximately 107
manufacturers and 12 distributors.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) generally has primary regulatory
authority over consumer products but air pollution districts may regulate
consumer products that CARB has not yet regulated such as those affected by
today’s rule. The rule adoption is expected to assist CARB in adopting
tougher regulations for additional categories of consumer products.
In other action today, the AQMD Board:
- Adopted Rule 1144 – Vanishing Oils and Rust Inhibitors. The rule
establishes VOC
limits for vanishing oils
and rust inhibitors used at industrial facilities, effective
January 1, 2010. The rule
prohibits the sale of non-compliant fluids and includes
exemptions for specific
uses of vanishing oils and rust inhibitors.
The rule applies to VOC emissions from steel tube and spring
manufacturers, steel mills, aerospace manufacturers and automobile part
manufacturers. It establishes a VOC limit of 50 (g/l) for vanishing oils
and a VOC limit of 300 g/l for rust inhibitors effective January 1, 2010,
with a further reduction to 50 g/l effective January 1, 2012. This rule
will result in an estimated 2.7 tons per day of VOC emission reductions.
AQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major
portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
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