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EPA reaches agreement with three companies on architectural coating rules violations

Release Date: 8/5/2005
Contact Information:

CONTACT: William Omohundro, (312) 353-8254

For Immediate Release
No. 05-OPA131

CHICAGO (Aug. 5, 2005) — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has reached an agreement that includes a $70,312 penalty with three related companies - one in Wisconsin and two in Ohio - on alleged violations of federal architectural coating rules. Architectural coatings are paints and similar coverings used on building exteriors, pavements and curbs.

The companies are Rust-Oleum Corp., 8691 109th St., Pleasant Prairie, Wis.; The Euclid Chemical Co., 19218 Redwood Road, Cleveland, Ohio; and Republic Powdered Metals Inc., 2628 Pearl Road, Medina, Ohio. All are subsidiaries of a common parent company, RPM International Inc., which is not a party to the settlement, nor is it alleged to have violated the rules.

The agreement resolves EPA allegations that since Jan. 1, 2001, Rust-Oleum and Euclid made coatings that exceeded limits on smog-producing volatile organic compounds without paying correct exceedance fees. EPA said Republic did not exceed VOC content limits, but it failed to properly label its containers. All three companies have certified that they are now in full compliance with the architectural coating standards.

Volatile organic compounds contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, or smog. Smog is formed when a mixture of air pollutants is baked in the hot summer sun. Smog can cause a variety of respiratory problems, including coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest pain. People with asthma, children and the elderly are especially at risk, but these health concerns are important to everyone.