FRESNO, CA — The San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District, based in Fresno, CA, has announced plans to begin discussions of revisions to its Rule 4601 on architectural coatings.
The action reflects moves by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to recommend adoption of lower VOC limits on architectural coatings by local and regional air pollution control districts in the state. CARB is expected to issue a revised suggested control measure (SCM) on architectural coatings in June; the measure proposes sharply lower VOC-content limits for a number of coatings categories. The SCM provides guidance to local and regional air-quality agencies in the development of regulations.
The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District has issued a preliminary draft staff report on the plan to consider new coatings rules, which includes proposed amendments to current VOC limits. Suggested limits include 100 grams per liter (g/L) for flat coatings, 150 g/L for nonflat coatings, 250 g/L for industrial maintenance coatings, and a range of limits for 40 other, more specialized types of coatings. The new limits would become effective on Jan. 1, 2003, with the limit for industrial maintenance coatings to go into effect Jan. 1, 2004. The draft report can be obtained from the district’s Web site at www.valleyair.org/
meetings/public_workshops_idx.htm, or by calling 559/230.6007.
