California’s Sacramento Metro Air Quality Management District (SMAQMD) is conducting a public workshop to discuss proposed changes to Rule 442 (Architectural Coatings). Rule 442 limits the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the use of architectural coatings. The rule applies to those who supply, sell, manufacture, blend, repackage, or apply any architectural coating within Sacramento County. The public workshop will be held on April 18 at 4:30 PM EDT, with an online Zoom option.
The proposed changes to Rules 442 would add a contingency measure that, if triggered, would automatically establish more stringent requirements for Architectural and Industrial Maintenance (AIM) coatings that are consistent with CARB’s 2019 AIM Suggested Control Measure..
The federal Clean Air Act requires State Implementation Plans for ozone nonattainment areas to include contingency measures that are automatically triggered if additional emissions reductions are needed to achieve National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone. Notably, the “Contingency Measure Trigger Date” is the effective date of an EPA final rule finding that Sacramento’s nonattainment area fails to the meet reasonable further progress in a milestone year or attain the standard by the attainment year of either the 2008 or 2015 NAAQS for ozone.
The proposed amendments will have no effect on compliance with the current rule unless the contingency measure provisions are triggered. In the event the district anticipates that the contingency measure provisions may be triggered by an EPA determination, SMAQMD will begin outreach and coordination with industry to ensure they are informed and prepared for the new requirements.
ACA will be attending SMAQMD’s Public Workshop on April 18. Additional information, including the proposed rule language and statement of reasons, can be found in the public workshop notice.
For more information, contact ACA’s Rhett Cash.