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The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) was expected to publish their revised Architectural Industrial Maintenance (AIM) National Rule proposal in September 2008, with an expected implementation date of January 2010. However, this ruling has been suspended indefinitely. The revised AIM National Rule is expected to reflect the current Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) Rule’s categories, definitions and VOC limits, with an unlimited sell through provision.
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Canada’s AIM Rule appeared in Canada Gazette I and the comment period ended early September. Although no dates appeared in the publication, it is expected the rule will be implemented January 1, 2009 with a one-year stop-sell provision and an additional two-year sell through provision for coatings manufactured and in Canada prior to the end of the stop-sell provision.
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The South Coast AQMD has passed their AIM Coatings Registration and Fee program to recover costs associated with the regulating of AIM coatings. The rule will go into effect in 2009 based on 2008 sales.
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The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule 1113 revised VOC limit of 50 g/l; for flat coatings went into effect on July 1, 2008.
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Ohio’s AIM Rule, resembling the OTC Rule, will be implemented on January 1, 2009. Ohio’s AIM Rule contains a three-year sell through provision allowing non-compliant products, manufactured prior to the rule’s effective date, to be sold for three additional years.
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Illinois’s AIM Rule, resembling the OTC Rule, will be implemented on January 1, 2009. Illinois AIM Rule contains an indefinite sell through provision allowing non-compliant products, manufactured prior to the rule’s effective date to be sold forever.
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Indiana is also planning to have their proposed AIM rule draft available in August 2008. However, if the National rule is published, they plan to reconcile any differences and may rescind their individual rule.
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Although Michigan has still not decided exactly how they will proceed, they are considering the adoption of an AIM rule resembling the OTC AIM rule.
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Wisconsin plans to wait for the National AIM rule to be implemented. |
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Massachusetts AIM Rule, resembling the OTC Rule, will be implemented on January 1, 2009. Massachusetts AIM Rule contains a three-year sell through provision allowing non-compliant products, manufactured prior to the rule’s effective date, to be sold for three additional years.
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Rhode Island moved forward with an AIM rule, and a draft of their rule went into effect at the end of August 2008.
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Although the California Air Resources Board (CARB) passed their revised Suggested Control Measure (SCM) in 2007 with a January 1, 2010 implementation date, at this time no individual air districts have moved toward adoption of the revised VOC limits. We do expect some of the air districts to begin the process and meet the 2010 date; however we expect the adoption process to evolve over time.
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The Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) has begun to consider CARB’s revised limits and at some point in the future, they may adopt some of the lower limits, but we do not expect any revised OTC limits until sometime after CARB’s 2010 implementation date.
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The South Coast AQMD and CARB are initiating new rules to regulate solvents related to the use of AIM Coatings. The South Coast Rule 1143 initial meeting is scheduled for today whereas CARB’s initial meeting is scheduled later in August. Both rules are similar and intend to regulate solvents/lacquer thinners and paint thinner. PPG will follow the development of these rules as they can affect the application and clean-up of our PAF and PMC products.
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