The Federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 substantially revised then existing federal and state regulatory rules to governing the reduction of air pollution in the United States.

Under the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) emissions are controlled by imposing restrictions on automobiles and manufacturing facilities. Controls on VOC’s on manufacturing facilities are effected by regulations imposed on add-on controls that capture VOC emissions and limitations on VOC content of coatings and solvents used by the facility.

In 1998 The EPA promulgated a national rule to control VOC emissions from architectural and industrial maintenance (AIM) coatings. The national AIM rule sets national standards for the VOC content of this class of coatings.

Due to its unique air quality issues California has imposed stricter limits on VOC’s than the national AIM limits Rule 113. Additionally, several states included in the Northeast Ozone Transport Commission (Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and D.C.) are considering adopting the more stringent California rule.

Hazardous air pollutant (HAP) regulations are imposed and enforced on coating manufacturers by the EPA.

These regulations, when fully implemented, will require coating manufacturers to install add-on control equipment to reduce HAP emissions to existing facilities as well as any future new facilities.

For coating manufacturers the new standards will require a basic overhaul in the way they produce product and control their manufacturing processes. In real terms, this translates to a total revamping of production operations within the United States. The cost per facility is projected to be in excess of one million dollars.