Handbook of Solvents - George Wypych - ChemTech - Ventech!

1282 Carlos M. Nu�ez
tronic circuit board, fabrics, ink supply lines, application equipment, and degreasing), and
chemical processes. More than 300 solvents are currently used in the U.S. 21
Organic chemical solvents are also widely used as ingredients in household products.
Paints, varnishes, and wax all contain organic solvents, as well as many cleaning, disinfecting,
cosmetic, degreasing, and hobby products. 21 These consumer products can release organic
compounds while in use and even when stored. Their release indoors can cause health
problems, especially considering that we spend around 90 percent of our time indoors. 22
All of the environmental and health problems aforementioned have prompted a number
of regulations specifically designed to promote and maintain a cleaner and sustainable
environment as well as a healthier and safer workplace. This chapter discusses the environmental
and safety laws and regulations and the regulatory process in the U.S. Some international
regulatory perspectives will also be provided. The purpose of the chapter is to present
some key elements of relevant laws and regulations affecting the use of solvents. Solvent
users can use this information to understand the range and basic structure of laws and regulations
that may affect solvent use. State and federal regulators can use this information to
gain a better understanding of the full scope of requirements across all media. In sections
19.2 to 19.4, the discussion follows the single-medium-based regulatory approach used in
the U.S. Recognizing, however, that environmental problems may cross medium lines, section
19.5 of this chapter provides a brief discussion of multimedia laws and regulations.
Section 19.6 discusses laws and regulations to protect workers from exposure to hazardous
chemicals. An overview of international environmental laws and regulations is given in section
19.7.
19.2 AIR LAWS AND REGULATIONS
19.2.1 CLEAN AIR ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1990 9
19.2.1.1 Background
In the seventies, the Air Quality Act of 1967 was amended twice: first in 1970 and then in
1977. These amendments brought, among other things, the establishment of national ambient
air quality standards (NAAQS), new source performance standards (NSPS) for major
new or modified stationary sources, and the national emission standards for hazardous air
pollutants (NESHAPS). Also in 1970, the decentralized environmental quality programs
and oversight were integrated with the founding of EPA. 23 EPA became the federal agency
with primary environmental regulatory responsibility in the U.S with 10 Regional Offices
located in major cities (see Figure 19.1 and Table 19.4). The Clean Air Act was amended
once again in 1990, building on earlier editions while incorporating some significant
changes. The old command and control policy changed to a more cooperative effort on the
part of the federal government, state agencies, local municipalities, and industry. Similar
approaches were implemented as early as 1979. Then, EPA tried to develop market-based
concepts in an attempt to limit and control pollution within a given area, also known as a
bubble, while permitting some level of flexibility for the affected facilities. Facilities
achieving greater control than required, were allowed to sell their excess pollution reduction
credit to other facilities within that area provided the overall pollution level was not exceeded.
24 These attempts did not achieve the desired pollution reduction, which prompted
revisions and amendments to the CAA.