WASHINGTON - The NPCA has filed comments urging the Environmental Protection Agency to expedite the removal of the solvent ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EGBE) from the agency's list of hazardous air pollutants.

The association said the delisting of EGBE could help the industry reduce hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions and meet new emissions rules affecting manufacturers and users of coatings. The EPA recently announced it would consider the delisting in response to a petition submitted by a panel of the American Chemistry Council.

In its comments, the NPCA said EGBE possesses "a number of physical and chemical properties that make it an attractive candidate" for some reformulations needed to meet new hazardous air pollutant standards affecting coatings manufacturers and users. The association also cited "years of evaluation on EPA's part and the results of risk assessments demonstrating that emissions of EGBE may not reasonably be anticipated to result in adverse human health or environmental effects."