Retailers hit by VOC ozone regulations

sistencies, according to Scott Seman, product manager for DAP Inc. In addition to varying from state to state and district to district, some have no grandlather clause to allow any products still on the retailer's shelf at the compliance deadline to be sold without violating the new regulations.

In some regions, only full gallons and up are affected, while in other areas smaller container sizes like quarts have to comply. Products required to comply vary from area to area too. Texas doesn't regulate wood preservatives, but California does.

trol offices are also good sources of information.

Many manufacturers have information and hot lines available to help dealers trying to keep uP with regulations. Dore' Morton at Performance Coatings Inc. in California has an 800 number to answer questions from their retailers. The company's quarterly newsletter also devotes a section to VOC regulation compliance.

With legislation pending in at least halfa dozen other states, industry sources believe that it is inevitable that all states will eventually have regulations on volatile organic compounds. Regulations at present apply to only certain counties or districts in the states with VOC control.

[:xamples are the I)allas-Fort Worth area in Texas. Phoenix in Arizona and Los Angeles, Riverside and Orange counties and the nondesert part ofSan Bernardino county in Southern (-alifornia.

National regulations are in the beginning stages. Spearheaded bY an EPA group, the frederal Control Technique Guideline will Provide uniform control for all states. However, these regulations will be written so that more stringent state and local laws may supersede them. Ilecause of the variation in air quality throughout the countrY. various areas feel a need for more VO(i regulation.

Retailers have the Problem of keeping up with legislation since stores in the areas affected bY the regulations could be held responsible for selling coatings that do not comply. Severe fines are applied in many areas.

The problem for retailers is not the VOC regulations, but the incon-

Fred Zimmerman, counsel for the National Paint and Coating Association, advises that retailers seek specific information regarding VOC limits from the manufacturers and distributors of the products which they sell. The local air pollution con-

TouEh Ca. Paint

Manufactureis are develoPing VOC compliant products to support the regulations. Labels clearly identify the new products which are said to be equal or superior to non-compliant products.

Retailers must keep up with pending regulations in their areas in order to have time to prepare their inventories. The consequences of not complying are serious.

"Together they emit That's about four times the l5 oil refineries operati ganic compounds says Bill Kelly, 's South Coast Air ict (SCAQMD), of VOCs per day. ission level of ln California. the California Air Resources Board provided guidelines for individual districts and defined a set of districts which are responsible for enforcing regulations. Each district has its own VOC regulations and can fur' sbme 24 individueil districts in the state.

SCAQMD includes Los A and Orange counties and the non San Bernardino CountY. It has some most stringent compliance regulations. It B illegal to sell non-compliant products in this area. Fines are severe for failure to comply.

"After the compliance date, retailers cannot sell non-compliant stock and if they do, there can be penalties. Our maximum penalty is $25,000 per day until compliance," Kelly said.