STATE OF MAINE 

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

JOHN ELIAS BALDACCI 

GOVERNOR 

MEMORANDUM 

TO: Board of Environmental Protection 

FROM: Andrea Lani, Bureau. of Air Quality 

DATE: June 7, 2007 

RE: Posting to Public Hearing: Chapter 152, Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic 

DAVID P. LITTELL 

COMMISSIONER 

Compounds from Consumer Products 

Statutory and Reaulatory Reference: 

A. Statutory authority. 

B. 

38 MRSA Section 585-A provides that the Board of Environmental Protection "may 

establish and amend regulations to implement ambient air quality standards and 

emission standards . These regulations shall be designed to achieve and maintain 

ambient air quality standards and emission standards within any region and prevent 

air pollution." 

Specific legal mandates requiring adoption. 

There are no legal mandates requiring adoption of these amendments. 

Location/Applicability: 

The proposed regulation will apply statewide. 

Description: 

Chapter 152 established emissions limits for volatile organic compound (VOC) content of 

consumer products in approximately 80 categories. The proposed amendments, which are based 

on a model rule developed by the Ozone Transport Commission (OTC), increase the number of 

categories of regulated consumer products by 18 . The proposed amendments also include limits 

on certain toxic compounds in some consumer products. In addition, the proposed amendments 

modify the date-coding requirements to make reporting less onerous to the regulated industries 

and clarify that, with certain exceptions, the sell-through period for products manufactured prior 

to the effective date is indefinite . 

AUGUSTA 

17 STATE HOUSE STATION 

AUGUSTA, MAINE 04333-0017 

(207) 287-7688 FAX: (207) 287-7826 

RAY BLDG., HOSPITAL ST. 

BANGOR PORTLAND PRESQUE ISLE 

106 HOGAN ROAD 312 CANCO ROAD 1235 CENTRAL DRIVE, SKYWAY PARK 

BANGOR, MAINE 04401 PORTLAND, MAINE 04103 PRESQUE ISLE, MAINE 04769-2094 

(207) 941-4570 FAX: (207) 941-4584 (207) 822-6300 FAX: (207) 822-6303 (207) 764-0477 FAX: (207) 760-3143 

web site : www.maine .gov/dep 

printed on recycled paper 
Environmental Issues : 

The proposed rule amendments are designed to reduce VOC emissions from consumer products . 

Volatile organic compounds react with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight to form 

ground level ozone, which is responsible for exacerbating a variety of respiratory ailments, such 

as asthma. Although children, the elderly and those with respiratory problems are most at risk, 

even healthy individuals may experience increased respiratory ailments and other symptoms 

when they are exposed to ambient ozone while engaged in activity that involves physical 

exertion . Although these symptoms are often temporary, repeated exposure can result in 

permanent lung damage. 

Consumer products in Maine are responsible for approximately 12 tons of VOC emissions per 

day. The proposed rule is estimated to reduce VOC emissions by approximately 0.2 tons per 

day. 

Departmental Recommendation : 

The Department recommends that the Board schedule a public hearing for this proposal on 

August 2, 2007 and proposes a public comment period deadline of August 17, 2007 . 

Estimated Time of Presentation: 

15 minutes .