ASC to Focus on Revision of Rule 1168 & TSCA Reform in 2014

Bethesda, MD -- The South Coast Air Quality Management Districts (SCAQMD) revision of Rule 1168 and congressional efforts at reforming the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) in the second session of the 113th Congress will be the Adhesive and SealantCouncils (ASC) regulatory affairs focus in 2014.

"SCAQMD got a slow start in 2013, but the pace of the revision process has picked up considerably in the final three months of 2013," said Mark Collatz, ASCs Director of Regulatory Affairs. "A December 18th workshop will mark the first opportunity for industry and the South Coast staff to sit down face-to-face and begin to work through the differences of the initial proposal."

The regulation sets volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions for commercial adhesive and sealant product categories throughout the largest and most populated counties of the Los Angeles basin and could have a major impact on how members formulate their products.

"One major directional change with this proposed revision is South Coasts decision to regulate consumer product categories that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has not addressed in its statewide rule," added Collatz. "We are still working with members to identify niche products that may not be able to meet the default limits set by SCAQMD and then work with the District to make sure they are protected from elimination under a final revised rule."

TSCA Reform

ASC continues to champion the bipartisan TSCA Senate reform legislation, The Chemical Safety Improvement Act (S. 1009) introduced by Senators David Vitter (R-LA) and the late Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) last May.

"While activity in the Senate has slowed somewhat this Fall, it is gratifying to see that the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on the Environment and the Economy has had several hearings on reforming TSCA in recent months and there appears to be a good chance that a House bill will be introduced early next year," reports Collatz. "It is likely that much of our early work in 2014 will focus on building bipartisan support among House members."