The Paint and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications Committee of the ASTM (D01) will hold its semi-annual meeting at the Sheraton Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, June 25-28, 2006. During the meeting, Alex Cavadias, head of VOC Controls for Environment Canada, will discuss actions being developed by Canada that will reduce volatile organic compound (VOC) levels in auto refinish, architectural and industrial maintenance coatings. Cavadias will join Dave Salman of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Dave Darling of the National Paint and Coatings Association, who normally provide updates on environmental activities at the U.S. federal, regional transport, state and local levels.

Additionally, volunteers from the coatings industry will report on progress made in completing the five-year review required to avoid ASTM International's withdrawal of a method, as well as the development of new methods that characterize the environmental, physical, or chemical properties of paints, inks and their raw materials.

For more information, call (610) 832-9706, e-mail dmeyers@astm.org or visit www.astm.org.