-New Source Performance Standards- Automobile Surface Coating Public Participation The promulgated NSPS for automotive surface coatings were published in the Federal Register (45 FR 85410) on Decem- ber 24, 1980. The promulgated standards reflect changes made as a result of comments received from industry representatives, coatings manufacturers, trade and professional associations, state air pol- lution control agencies. The Background In- formation Document (BID), "Automobile and Light-Duty Truck Surface Coating Opera- tions — Background Information for Promul- gated Standards," (EPA-450/3-79-030b) dis- cusses these comments in detail and is avail- able from the EPA Library (MD-35), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, tele- phone (919) 541-2777. For further informa- tion, contact Gene W. Smith, Chief, Standards Preparation Section (MD-13), U.S. Environ- mental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, telephone (919) 541-5421. ^^^^••M m| ° - >< So 3) IT & C !i*-.zM rcSs^g' «f* - ac * 2o3^.a»SJ> c ==ras; 5±3J ^3 5'^.g 00? «> 5=Sal S3* n < 3 5'g !. w 2 5" "J "i m LJ«. -1tT>TW1Z'T -*D DOES 8sn ssauisng |BiD(|jo •°S =0 N>"^2>» i 9E£ Vd3 - pied I UiZ ON '>|JEd s|6ueui UOI1D91OJJ tg' Q o m 3 o -» TJ c -°3 3(D -i fi> _ 3 O ^* «> 3 I o I 3- 5 3 -S « I8§1* " O' o S. CT SI&I« & < 5 j o O 5- 3 ^ ^ -j 3^ O Q)_ CO ^ s -5»" S. a-o S o 3 J* (/) ^ Hfli ?i | § | CT CD O) Q) United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 January 1981 New Source Performance Standards oEPA Automobile Surface Coatings Final Regulation ------- -New Source Performance Standards- Automobile Surface Coating Regulatory Authority The 1977 Clean Air Act Amendments call for a comprehensive national program to reduce air pollution and improve air quality. Section 111 of the Act requires the U.S. Environ- mental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish nationwide emission standards for selected new, modified and reconstructed stationary sources. These New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) are intended to minimize new air pollution problems. The NSPS for automobile and light duty truck surface coat- ing operations are discussed here. Emission Limits On December 24,1980, EPA published a final regulation to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from automo- bile surface coating operations. VOC are emitted when surface coatings cure (dry) after application. VOC react in the atmosphere to form photo- chemical oxidants, pollutants that irritate the respiratory system and damage plant tissue and other materials. VOC are found in engine exhausts, and in gasoline and surface coating solvent vapors. The regulation establishes performance standards for new, modified, and reconstructed automobile and light-duty truck surface coating operations within as- sembly plants. Three major coating operations in assembly plants—prime coat, guide coat, and topcoat applications—will be covered by the standards. The standards limit VOC emis- sions in kilograms per liter of applied coating solids as follows: 0.16 from prime coat op- erations; 1.40 from guide coat operations; and 1.47 from topcoat operations. Affected Sources NSPS for automotive surface coating opera- tions were proposed on October 5, 1980. Almost 15 percenter 135,000 metric tons of VOC emissions from all industrial coating op- erations nationwide came from automotive surface coating operations in 1976. The standards for surface coating operations apply to all new, modified, and reconstructed automobile and light-duty truck surface coat- ing operations for which constructions began after October 5, 1979. No existing plant would be covered by the NSPS unless it under- goes either a modifi- cation that increases VOC emissions or is reconstructed. Opera- tions for coating all- metal bodies or metal bodies with plastic parts attached are cov- ered by the standards. However, operations for coating all plastic bodies or body parts are not covered. Also exempt from the standards are modifcations required by annual model changeovers. Control Options The intent of the stand- ards is to require use of the best demonstra- ted system of contin- uous emission reduc- tion and control tech- nology considering ec- onomic, energy and other impacts not di- rectly related to air quality. VOC control technology for automobile surface coating op- erations include: (1) use of coatings contain- ing relatively low quantities of VOC; (2) use of improved painting methods such as electro- static spray; or (3) use of incineration, carbon adsorption or other similar emission con- trol devices. Any one or a combination of these may be used to achieve the standards. For purposes of compliance, data calculated by Reference Method 24 (Determination of Volatile Matter Content, Water Content, Den- sity, Volume Solids, and Weight Solids of Sur- face Coatings) or manufacturers formulation data will be used to determine the VOC con- tent of coating materials. Reference Method 25 (Determination of Total Gaseous Nonme- thane Organic Emissions as Carbon) will be used to determine the percentage reduction of VOC achieved by emission control devices. To facilitate enforcement of the standards, the owner or operator is required to conduct monthly performance tests and to report non- compliance by the tenth day of the following month. Impacts Environmental: EPA estimates the standards will reduce VOC emissions by 4800 metric tons per year or 80 percent by 1983, com- pared to emission levels currently allowed by most states. This is based on estimates that four new assembly-line surface coating opera- tions will be constructed by 1983. Water pol- lution and solid waste impacts will be neg- ligible compared to the amounts of each that are normally generated by existing plants. Energy: Energy consumption at typical as- sembly plants will increase about 25 percent— the equivalent of 18,000 barrels of fuel oil per year. This corresponds to a nationwide in- crease of 72,000 barrels of fuel oil per year by 1983. Economic: Capital and annual costs of automotive surface coating operations will increase as a result of the standards. EPA estimates the price of an automobile or light- duty truck will increase by less than 0.1 percent, spread over the entire production process. Control costs for four new assembly lines planned by 1983 will increase by about $19 million, or 0.2 percent of the $10 billion planned for capital expen- ditures. ------- |