WASHINGTON - The NPCA is asking coatings manufacturers to submit comments to the U.S. EPA on its proposed National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Miscellaneous Organic processes, commonly referred to as the MON. The proposed rule was published April 4 in the Federal Register, and the comment period ends June 28.

The NPCA said it has developed a "form" letter for comments that association member companies can download from the NPCA website and submit to the EPA.

The NPCA said the rule, as proposed, will require coatings and resin manufacturers to install costly add-on air-pollution-control equipment to reduce emissions of hazardous air pollutants. The EPA has estimated that over the next 15 years, the regulation will cost the coatings-manufacturing industry $57 million in capital equipment and $16 million annually. The cost to the chemical industry to reduce emissions from resin-manufacturing processes is estimated at $122 million in capital expenditures and $75 million in annual expenditures. The NPCA said the EPA's cost estimates are believed to be conservative.