Overview
Title
Air Plan Approval; Wisconsin; VOC RACT Requirements for Lithographic Printing Facilities
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is giving a thumbs-up to Wisconsin's new rules that help keep the air clean by controlling how much smelly stuff, called VOCs, can come from big printing machines in certain areas. These new rules will start on March 15, 2021, and will help make sure the air stays nice and fresh without adding new things to worry about.
Summary AI
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved a revision to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) requested by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. This revision concerns rules for controlling volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from offset lithographic printing operations in Wisconsin. The new rules align with EPA's 2006 guidelines and clarify VOC requirements for printing facilities across nine Wisconsin counties. The approval was finalized without public comments and will be effective starting March 15, 2021.
Abstract
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR or Wisconsin) on December 13, 2019. Wisconsin requests that EPA approve rules related to control of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from offset lithographic printing operations into Wisconsin's SIP. These revisions include amendments to the Wisconsin Administrative Code (WAC), Chapter NR 422. These revisions are approvable because they are consistent with the latest Control Techniques Guideline (CTG) for Offset Lithographic Printing and Letterpress Printing, published by EPA in 2006, and such revisions clarify and streamline the VOC reasonably available control technology (RACT) requirements for lithographic printing facilities located in nine counties in Wisconsin (Kenosha, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Washington, and Waukesha). EPA proposed to approve this action on September 25, 2020 and received no comments.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document under review details the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) recent approval of revisions to Wisconsin's State Implementation Plan (SIP) concerning the regulation of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from lithographic printing operations. These revisions were requested by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and aim to align state rules with federal guidelines from 2006. This approval applies to nine counties in Wisconsin and is set to take effect on March 15, 2021.
General Summary
The purpose of the document is to officially announce that the EPA has approved changes to Wisconsin's SIP concerning VOC emissions from certain printing operations. These changes update the state regulations to be consistent with the federal guidelines established in 2006. The rules specifically address emissions from offset lithographic printing facilities, which are now required to meet specific control technology guidelines. This approval proceeded without public comments, indicating either satisfaction or a lack of opposition.
Significant Issues or Concerns
One notable concern is the absence of detailed financial information. The document does not outline the potential costs of implementing these VOC regulations, which can be an important factor for local businesses and policymakers. This omission may lead to uncertainty or skepticism about the economic feasibility of the requirements.
Additionally, the document is technical in nature and refers to numerous legal statutes and executive orders without explaining their direct relevance. This may render it challenging for the general public or those unfamiliar with environmental law to fully grasp the document's implications.
Broad Public Impact
On a broad scale, the adoption of these revisions could lead to improved air quality in the affected areas, potentially benefiting public health by reducing pollution-related health risks. Cleaner air can support better overall community wellness and contribute to environmental sustainability.
However, the document lacks specific examples or strategies on how these rules will be enforced or monitored, which can cause confusion or uncertainty about their effectiveness.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For lithographic printing facilities in the specified counties, these rule changes might necessitate adjustments to their operational processes. While the document asserts that no additional requirements beyond existing state law will be imposed, the practical implications of adhering to updated guidelines may vary. Printing facilities might face challenges related to compliance costs, potentially impacting smaller businesses more significantly.
Conversely, these updates provide an opportunity for these businesses to innovate and potentially improve operational efficiencies by adopting newer, cleaner technologies. Without information on stakeholder engagement or feedback, it is unclear whether these facilities were consulted or how they perceive the balance of burdens and benefits resulting from the revised regulation.
In conclusion, while the EPA's approval is a step toward stricter environmental regulation, the document could benefit from clearer explanations, detailed cost assessments, and evidence of stakeholder engagement to ensure comprehensive understanding and compliance.
Issues
• The document does not provide specific financial implications or costs associated with the implementation of the VOC RACT requirements, making it difficult to assess if there's any wasteful spending.
• The document refers to several legal references and executive orders without explaining how they directly impact the rule, causing potential confusion for readers unfamiliar with those references.
• The language used is highly technical and assumes a certain level of pre-existing knowledge about environmental regulations and the Clean Air Act, which may not be accessible to the general public.
• While the document states that it does not impose additional requirements beyond state law, it lacks detailed examples or explanations of how the incorporated regulations will be enforced or monitored.
• There is no discussion on collaboration or consultation with affected stakeholders, such as lithographic printing facilities, which could provide insights into any potential burdens or benefits experienced by these entities.