National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Surface Coating of Plastic Parts and Products

This action proposes national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) for plastic parts and products surface coating operations located at major sources of hazardous air pollutants (HAP). The proposed standards would implement section 112(d) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) by requiring these operations to meet HAP emission standards reflecting the application of the maximum achievable control technology (MACT). The proposed rule would protect air quality and promote the public health by reducing emissions of HAP emitted in the largest quantities by facilities in the surface coating of plastic parts and products source category to include methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), toluene, and xylenes. Exposure to these substances has been demonstrated to cause adverse health effects such as irritation of the lung, skin, and mucous membranes, and effects on the central nervous system, liver, and heart. In general, these findings have only been shown with concentrations higher than those typically in the ambient air. The proposed standards would reduce nationwide HAP emissions from major sources in this source category by approximately 80 percent.