California legislation is always a surprise and I expect 2016 will be no different. There will be plenty to do, but compared to the last three years, activity could be down. This will offer an opportunity to strengthen our relationships with agency staff and Board members. Heidi McAuliffe, Senior Counsel, Government Affairs, American Coatings Association (ACA) While my crystal ball is not really working properly, there are a few issues that don’t require any magical powers. Since the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized its new ozone standard, ratcheting it down to 70 parts per billion (ppb), many states and local areas will now find themselves with non-attainment status. This translates to extraordinary efforts in the states to find additional emission reductions. Source categories that have already been identified by other agencies are easy targets and this means paint and consumer and industrial adhesives could be the subject of new rulemakings. For consumer products such as aerosol adhesives, it means that the Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) and others like them will turn to the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) regulations as a model for adopting more stringent standards. On the industrial side, states may turn to the strictest standards in the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) to serve as a model regulation for industrial adhesives. While the EPA has the authority to stem the tide of state-by-state patchwork regulations, the agency has largely The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) In 2015, EPA released the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program amended rule, which will prohibit HFC-134a from numerous products on July 20, 2016. Therefore, it is not expected that EPA will do any more on this issue for a while. The EPA also released the new Ozone Standard. Unless there is push back from Congress, the new Ozone Standard will go into effect. Therefore, not much activity is expected from EPA on this issue. Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) The OTC and other regional air districts will begin work on the new Ozone Standard. It is not likely to involve us this year, but potentially, activity could heat up in 2017. South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) This year, SCAQMD will likely begin work on a Mold Release rule. Industry needs to monitor this activity. As always, we need to monitor all the activities in this Air District! Dept. of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC) This agency will likely begin work on the Safer Consumer Product Regulation (Green Chemistry). Expect activity to start around the second quarter. Office of Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) OEHHA will continue its activities on amendments to Proposition 65, which requires the State to publish a list of chemicals known to cause cancer or birth defects or other reproductive harm. McAuliffe Regulatory Outlook… 16 Spray January 2016
Spray January 2016
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