EPA to Propose Revisions to Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) Rule

         

On April 12, EPA provided notice in the Federal Register that it will be releasing a proposed rule to revise its Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) rule. The agency said the proposed amendments would support Agency data collection efforts, align reporting with amended Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) by requiring that confidentially claims be substantiated, and make chemical reporting easier by streamlining complex submissions.

EPA aims to amend the CDR rule to update the definition of small entities (small manufacturers), who are exempt from reporting; add exemptions for specific types of byproducts; simplify reporting, including allowing manufacturers to use certain processing and use data codes already in use as part of international codes developed through the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development; and remove outdated rule text and consolidate exemptions.

EPA noted that the proposed revised definition for small entities may reduce the burden on chemical manufacturers by increasing the number of manufacturers considered small.

TSCA Section 8(a) authorizes EPA to require, by rulemaking, manufacturers (including importers) and processors of chemical substances to maintain records and/or report such data as EPA may reasonably require to carry out the TSCA mandates. Information that can be required to be reported may include the following:

• Chemical or mixture identity
• Categories of use
• Quantity manufactured or processed
• By-product description
• Health and environmental effects information
• Number of individuals exposed
• Method(s) of disposal

The current CDR rule requires manufacturers (including importers) of certain chemical substances listed on the TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory (TSCA Inventory) to report data on chemical manufacturing, processing, and use every four (4) years.

Once the official rule EPA proposal is published in the Federal Register, the agency will accept comments on the proposal for 60 days.

Contact ACA’s Riaz Zaman for more information.

Contact ACA’s Riaz Zaman for more information

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from American Coatings Association https://www.paint.org/cdr-amend/
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New York Seeks to Eliminate 3-Year Sell-through Period in Proposed AIM Rule

On March 6, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) proposed to adopt the Northeast Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) Phase II model rule limiting volatile organic compound (VOC) content for AIM (Architectural and Industrial Maintenance) coatings. However, NYSDEC is deviating from the OTC model by proposing to potentially eliminate the small container exemption and provide only a two-year sell through; every other AIM rule includes at least a three-year sell through period.

ACA is preparing comments for NYSDEC’s comment deadline of May 20. The department will conduct public hearings on its proposal on May 6, 13 and 14.

In its comments, ACA will urge NYSDEC to maintain the Small Container Exemption and expand the sell-through period to three years.

ACA maintains that the small container exemption is the only remaining alternative compliance option, or safety valve, in the NYSDEC AIM Rule, and continues to be a critical for the paint and coatings industry, especially given the cold and wet climate of New York state. This exemption provides a “safety net,” or last resort option allowing for the use of traditional products in challenging application scenarios in the field as well as when limits in categories become more stringent or a category is eliminated.

ACA believes the proposed two-year sell through period is counterproductive and will raise significant uncertainties in the market place because it is not consistent with any other AIM regulation in the United States. Every federal, state and California Air district AIM rule has at least a three-year sell through period. The proposed 2 year sell through period will require manufacturers travel to stores, collect product off the shelves and dispose of these product at significant (and unnecessary) expense to stores, retailers, and manufacturers and NYSDEC has not accounted for this burden and expense.

ACA, through its AIM VOC Committee, tracks advocates and provides compliance assistance on the various AIM VOC regulations.

Contact ACA’s David Darling for more information.

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from American Coatings Association https://www.paint.org/aim-ny/
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BEA Data Give Insight into State of the U.S. Economy

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), one of the executive branch agencies that collects, analyzes, and publishes critical economic data used by government officials, business leaders, and academics, is best known for its most closely watched output, the quarterly Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figure. The BEA’s publication of GDP is perhaps the widely used measure of the nation’s overall economic health.

While most of the attention is on the headline GDP number and its quarter-to-quarter movement, BEA publishes detailed breakdowns of the various components of GDP, which provide users more granular information on the economy. For example, BEA publishes quarterly data for a variety of sectors for the economy which show their relative contributions (in production) to the overall U.S. GDP.  The U.S. economy is dominated by the service sector, which comprises just under 70% of GDP (vs. the private goods producing sector, which contributes 17% of GDP overall.)

Digging further into the manufacturing sector, BEA publishes detailed tables on the major sectors’ components, which, over time, provide insight into U.S. manufacturing’s trajectory. For example, Figure 2 shows the changes in nondurable goods manufacturing, of which the coatings industry is an important part. As the BEA data illustrate, while the overall nondurable sector has grown significantly since 1990, the chemical sector has been leading that expansion.

Breaking down the chemical sector further, the largest component of chemicals is pharma (which is why it is often reported separated from the chemical industry), followed by basic organic chemical manufacturing and petrochemicals. A wide variety of chemical manufacturing sectors, including the paint and coatings industry, are clustered around $20 billion in value. The BEA’s most recent figures for the coatings industry indicate that its gross output is approximately $28.7 billion.

Additional BEA data for U.S. GDP can be found at its Gross Domestic Product page, which allows users to look at details on GDP for industries, states, counties, and metro areas.

Contact ACA’s Allen Irish for more information.

 

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from American Coatings Association https://www.paint.org/bea-data/
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WACKER Opens Competence Center for Cement and Concrete Applications in Shanghai

The WACKER Group has opened a competence center for cement and concrete applications in Shanghai, China. The laboratory will develop novel silicone-based products and solutions that are able to improve the performance of cement and concrete and to make these materials more sustainable, WACKER said.

“WACKER’s new R&D lab in Shanghai will support our customers to cope with these challenges and to seize the market opportunities which have opened up,” says Paul Lindblad, president of WACKER Greater China. “As a regional innovation platform focusing on cement and concrete, the new lab will cooperate with leading Chinese universities, research institutions and the industry. Its goal is to develop innovative products and solutions which support the sustainable development of the Chinese construction materials industry.”

According to WACKER, at its new competence center in Shanghai, the company will be able to investigate how silicone chemistry can effectively protect cement and concrete against environmental influences and at the same time improve the durability of these materials. “One of the goals of our lab is to develop silicone products that improve hydrophobicity, durability, and other unresolved problems in cement and concrete. For example, silicones are capable of making cement hydrophobic,” says Dr. Peter Jerschow, head of Global Product Development for the Business Unit Construction Silicones at WACKER SILICONES. “As WACKER’s first competence center which will deal exclusively with silicone-based cement and concrete admixtures, the new lab will leverage our worldwide technological expertise and resources to serve China’s growing cement and concrete industry.”

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from American Coatings Association https://www.paint.org/wacker-opens-competence-center-for-cement-and-concrete-applications-in-shanghai/
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BYK Opens Site in Shanghai

BYK has expanded it operations in the Shanghai region to meet the anticipated growth in demand in the key Chinese market, the company reported. According to BYK, the Asia region accounts for one third of sales, and has made a substantial contribution to BYK in past decades.

“The new site will significantly enhance our presence in the Chinese market and will enable us to focus on individual customer solutions in the growing Asian market. The new and ultra-modern facility is embedded in the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park (SCIP) where we enjoy, ideal framework conditions for our innovative, differentiated additive solutions,” said Martin Babilas, CEO of ALTANA AG.

“Creating customer value is the core of our strategy at BYK. Optimum technical laboratory support, product innovations, and fast, reliable supply chains play a crucial role in this strategy. Thanks to the facility being opened today, we can offer our Chinese customers more direct services, as well as differentiated products that will provide an additional impetus to our business in the region,” explained Stephan Glander, BYK Division President.

The five-hectare site in Shanghai (around 54,000 square miles) is home to laboratories, a distribution center, and administration. BYK reportedly invested around 38 million euros, and some 100 employees will work at the location when it is in full operation.

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from American Coatings Association https://www.paint.org/byk-opens-site-in-shanghai/
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PPG Acquires Automotive Coatings Manufacturer Hemmelrath

PPG has completed its acquisition of automotive coatings manufacturer Hemmelrath. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Klingenberg, Germany, Hemmelrath is a manufacturer of coatings for automotive original equipment manufacturers. With more than 450 employees, the company operates manufacturing facilities in Klingenberg and Erlenbach, Germany; Jilin, China; Duncan, South Carolina, United States; and Indaiatuba, Brazil. Hemmelrath supplies automotive plants worldwide, and more than 7 million vehicles are coated with its products each year.

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from American Coatings Association https://www.paint.org/ppg-acquires-automotive-coatings-manufacturer-hemmelrath/
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BASF to Increase Capacity for Alkylethanolamines In Ludwigshafen

BASF has announced that it will increase the production capacity of Alkylethanolamines (AEOA) by 20 percent at the BASF Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany. After the start-up in 2020, BASF’s global annual nameplate capacity of AEOA will reportedly be more than 110,000 metric tons per year at its production facilities in Ludwigshafen, Germany; Geismar, USA; and Nanjing, China.

“As one of the world’s leading suppliers of amines, we continue to support the fast-growing customer demand for products of our Alkylethanolamine portfolio by increasing our capacity. The demand is particularly high for high-performance products in the Water and Gas Treatment industries,” said Dr. Andrea Frenzel, president, BASF Intermediates Division.

BASF stated that the additional capacity in Ludwigshafen will primarily serve its European customer base. “We have highly efficient manufacturing processes, and with this investment, we provide our customers greater flexibility and reliability of supply than before,” said Dr. Frank Stein, senior vice president, BASF Intermediates Amines Europe.

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Arkema Increases Photocure Resin Production Capacity in China

Arkema has started up a 30 percent capacity extension of its photocure advanced liquid resin production plant in Nansha, located south of Canton, China. The company stated that this new production line will help to meet the strong demand in Asia in the electronics, 3D printing, adhesives, and inkjet printing markets. This investment supports Sartomer’s strategy to develop cutting-edge solutions for advanced and sustainable curing technologies, according to Arkema.

“This investment strengthens our commitment to providing the most advanced photocure resin solutions with innovative properties, as well as services, to our customers around the world and giving them a leading competitive edge in their respective markets,” said Christophe André, executive vice president, Advanced Materials for Arkema.

According to Arkema, with production sites and R&D facilities in Europe, Asia, and the United States, Sartomer, part of Arkema group, is positioned as a unique partner close to its customers with a strong local presence, high-quality technical support for tailor-made developments, as well as responsive local logistics services.

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ACA Presents Awards at its 2019 CoatingsTech Conference

ACA presented a series of awards recognizing both professionals and students for their innovative work in coatings technology, at the association’s 2019 CoatingsTech Conference. The conference, held April 8-10 in Cleveland, Ohio, features the CoatingsTech Best Paper Award, Mattiello Memorial Award, and Student Poster Session Awards. The conference award presentations took place the morning of April 9, the second day of the technical conference.

Held every two years, the CoatingsTech Conference provides coatings professionals the most innovative technologies and applications shaping the industry, as well as regulatory trends and networking opportunities.

CoatingsTech Best Paper Award The CoatingsTech Best Paper Award was presented to Dr. Linqian Feng, senior scientist for Eastman Chemical Company’s Coatings Application Research Group, for her paper titled, “From Fundamentals to Applications: Understanding BPA-Non-Intent Resin Technology in Food Contact Metal Packaging Coatings.” Feng addressed how Eastman applied a suite of methods and analysis techniques — from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cathodic disbanding, to mechanical properties, hydrolytic stability and solvent extraction properties — for a resin development strategy for novel non-BPA resins in metal packaging coating applications. The CoatingsTech Best Paper Award was accompanied by a cash prize.

Joseph J. Mattiello  Lecture Award The Joseph J. Mattiello Lecture Award was presented to Dr. Michael Diebold, who delivered the conference’s Mattiello Memorial Lecture. Diebold, technical fellow, R&D, at Chemours Company, delivered a lecture titled, “Optimizing the Benefits of TiO2 in Paints.” The award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science, technology, and/or engineering related to the coatings industry, honoring its namesake, Joseph J. Mattiello, who did much to expand the application of science in the decorative and protective coatings field. Diebold was selected for the award through a peer-nomination process. Over the course of his career, a major focus of his attention has been improving paint opacity by optimizing light scattering.

Student Poster Awards

Two Student Poster  Awards were given to students involved in coatings research, who presented their findings during the CoatingsTech Conference’s poster competition. This forum offered a non-commercial arena for new ideas and techniques, and a showcase for preliminary results related to chemistry, engineering, human relationship, or other discipline fundamental to paint, coatings, varnish, lacquer, or related protective and decorative coatings.

	First Place Haoran Wang, of the University of Akron, received the first-place Student Poster Award for his poster, “Synthesis and Application of Modified Cardanol as Bio-Based Reactive Diluents for Alky Coating.”
	Second Place Jackson Benda, of North Dakota State University, received the second-place Student Poster Award for his poster, “Effect of Surface Modifying Amphiphilic Additives (SMAAs) on Siloxane-Polyurethane (SiPU) Fouling-Release Coatings.”

For more information about the CoatingsTech conference and program, visit https://www.paint.org/2019-ctc/. A full review of the conference highlights will be featured on ACA’s website following the conference conclusion.

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from American Coatings Association https://www.paint.org/coatingstech-awards-2019/
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U.S. Green Building Council Launches LEED v4.1

On April 2,  the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that the new version of the LEED green building program – LEED v4.1 – is now available for cities, communities and homes. According to USGBS, LEED v4.1 certification recognizes leadership by emphasizing performance monitoring, fully integrated design, social equity and human health factors.

Green building standards and codes contain specific restrictions and indoor air quality requirements for paint, coatings, adhesives, and sealants. LEED is one of the most prominent green building standards, alongside the International Green Construction Code, also known as the International Code Council (IgCC). Although LEED is the most dominant rating system in the United States, there is growing competition among rating systems, heightened by an interest in environmentally-friendly building materials. The implementation of these standards by jurisdictions and individuals are driving down volatile organic compound (VOC) limits. There are further efforts toward mandatory emissions testing for interior products to improve indoor air quality and the restriction of chemicals used in building materials.

The updated LEED v4.1, builds on new methodologies for measuring building performance. This includes changes to the Material and Resources (MR) categories and the Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) categories. The VOC Content standards for adhesives and sealants were updated to the most recent South Coast Air Quality Management District Rule 1168. Points for low-emitting materials are now awarded on a scale based on the number of product categories that meet the requirements. The emission evaluation requirement for Paints, Coatings, Adhesives, and Sealants has been reduced to 75% from 90%. There have also been weighting changes for how environmental product declarations are counted under the new v4.1. Industry wide EPD’s are now counted as 1 product and externally reviewed product specific type III EPDs are counted as 1.5 products. These are a few of the changes made under the new rating system which will impact how member companies can maximize LEED credits to their products. The smaller green building standard WELL, has released WELL V2 the Association will continue to track the standard and comment when applicable. The intent of this update was to more align with LEED where possible.

For the residential market, LEED v4.1 combines the familiar and relevant aspects from four previously-existing LEED for homes rating systems (LEED for Low-rise homes, LEED for Midrise Homes, LEED for Core and Shell and LEED for New Construction) to deliver three rating systems – LEED v4.1 Residential: New Single-family homes, LEED v4.1 Residential: New Multifamily homes and LEED v4.1 New Multifamily homes core and shell. According the USGBC, the updated rating system is designed to make the decision to implement LEED easier for residential projects and revitalize the council’s approach to the housing market.

For the LEED for Cities and LEED for Communities rating systems, LEED v4.1 expands on the earlier performance based approach to deliver a comprehensive framework to support plan, design, operation and performance management phases of both new and existing cities and communities. The rating systems align with all the UN Sustainable Development Goals and incorporate leadership standards and best practices from complementary systems, like the previously integrated STAR Community Rating System, as well as the PEER, TRUE, EDGE and SITES programs. According to USGBC, More than 90 cities and communities around the world, representing more than 45 million people, are LEED-certified based on several factors, including water efficiency, energy, greenhouse gas emissions, materials and resources, quality of life, innovation and regional priorities.

Through its Sustainability Committee, ACA is involved in the development of mandatory and voluntary green building rating systems and standards to ensure that requirements for paint and coatings are technically feasible and consistent with government regulations. ACA plays an active role in this development process by attending hearings, commenting on draft language, submitting proposals, and meeting with standard development staff.

ACA is working on the development of the Sustainability Program that if developed would allow members to achieve maximum credits as possible from the existing/future LEED program.

Contact ACA’s Tim Wieroniey for more information.

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from American Coatings Association https://www.paint.org/leed-4-1/
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