A proposed HAP emission standard also was scheduled to be issued by the end of June for miscellaneous metal parts.

The HAP limits are scheduled to go into effect three years after the proposed rules are formally enacted. The EPA's schedule for enactment of the standards generally calls for the rules to be finalized approximately one year after the proposed rules are issued. Affected industries are usually allowed to submit comments for 60 days after a proposed emission standard is issued.

The proposed rules are latest in a series of actions designed to reduce HAP emissions from a variety of industrial coating processes. Robert Nelson, senior director of Environmental Affairs for the National Paint & Coatings Association, said the NPCA is coordinating its response to the proposed emissions rules with industry groups affected by those proposals. A top concern of those groups, he said, is possible conflict or duplication within the various coating-process regulations, and the extensive reporting and record-keeping demands.

Facilities required to comply with the new standards would have the option of using coatings that meet the HAP emissions limits or employing emissions control and capture systems.

Meanwhile, the EPA recently issued a final HAP emission standard for metal coil coating processes. The proposed rule had been issued in July 2000.

Information on the release of new HAP emission-standard proposals or final rules is available at www.epa.gov/ttn/caaa, in the "What's new" or "Recent Actions" sections.

Information on the EPA's HAP emissions standards for industrial coating process categories is also available on several other EPA websites, including:

www.epa.gov/ttnuatw1/coat/coat.html;

www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/coat/coat.html; and

www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/mactupd.html.

The EPA also has posted a table on the website at www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/112j/info/112(j)-table2.html that lists the proposed timing of the proposing and finalizing of HAP emissions standards for industrial coating process categories.

Industrial-coating categories scheduled to be targeted for the issuance of proposed emission standards in the next several months include plastic parts, auto and light-duty truck, and metal can.