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PA EPA PROPOSED AIR TOXICS RULE

Release Date: 03/03/95
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PA EPA PROPOSED AIR TOXICS RULE

FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 1995

EPA PROPOSES PRINTING INDUSTRY AIR TOXICS RULE INCORPORATING PRINCIPLES OF

COMMON SENSE INITIATIVE

EPA today announced a proposed air toxics rule for the printing and publishing industry which incorporates many principles of the Agency's Common Sense Initiative. The proposal would reduce toluene and other air toxics from the ink used in two distinct segments of the printing and publishing industry: One is publication rotogravure printers, which produce magazines, telephone directories, newspaper inserts and direct mail catalogues. The other is package-product rotogravure and wide-web flexographic facilities, which produce gift wrap, floor coverings, labels and flexible packaging. The proposal would cut air toxics emissions by about 5500 tons annually from publication rotogravure printers -- a 27 percent reduction from current levels. Emissions would be cut by 2100 tons yearly, or 46 percent, from package-product rotogravure and wide-web flexographic printers. The proposal will affect an estimated 127 existing printing and publishing facilities in the U.S. and any new ones built in the future. The Common Sense Initiative, introduced by EPA Administrator Carol M. Browner in July 1994, is a major effort to move away from one-size-fits-all federal regulations in favor of a cleaner, cheaper and smarter approach to environmental protection. The program is initially focusing on improving and streamlining regulations for printing and publishing and five other pilot industries. The proposal reflects the goals of the Common Sense Initiative by providing the printing and publishing industry with flexible compliance options, simplified recordkeeping and reporting requirements and pollution prevention alternatives. As an example of the latter, EPA is allowing the industry to comply with the rule through the use of popular, readilyavailable inks and coatings containing low quantities of air toxics, instead of mandating costly pollution control equipment. The proposal will appear soon in the Federal Register, but will be computer-accessible earlier through EPA's electronic Technology Transfer Network (TTN), under the Clean Air Act Amendments Bulletin Board ("Recently Signed Rules") at 919-541-5742 (backup number for access problems is 919-541-5384). For further technical information on the proposal contact David Salman at 919-541-0859.

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