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# OAR Box 

# 1477 Prepped by Ollie Stewart

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# 26 ) II-J-1 7 Docket Number: 

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Printed 7/31/2008 11:18:29 AM Sheet 26 of 36P. 2 Fiberglas s Systems , Inc . Boise , Idah o Telephone : 208.342.682 3 

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- J- O

Mr . KeithBarnett , projec t lea d Offic e o f Ai r Plannin g an dStandard s Unite dState s environmenta l Protectio n Agenc y MD1 3 Researc hTriangl e Park , N C 2771 1 y 26 , 200 0

Dear Mr . Barnett : Thi s i s my thir dlette r

addresse dt o th e Projec t

Lea dconcernin g issue s raise da s EP A ha s proceede dtoward s promulgatio n o f ou r industry' s MAC T standard . M y tw o previou s letter s wer e i n Octobe r

199 8 an dJanuary 199 9 addresse dt o Dr . Strum . Ther e ar e anumbe r

o f issue s tha t

concer n me , primaril y a s th e owne r o f asmal l busines s an dsecondaril y a s a

n activ e membe r

o f ou r nationa l trad e association . Thes e ar e th e issue s tha t nee dt o b e addresse db y EP A an dresolve ds o th e MAC T standar ddoe s no t shu t dow n a larg e componen t

o f ou r industry : *EP A shoul db e carefu l no t t o requir e acontro l technolog y (incinerators ) tha t caus e mor e environmenta l har m(Nox , C0 2 etc. ) than benefit . *M y compan y ca n no t

affordt o instal l an doperat e a n incinerator . *M y compan y ca n no t

practicall y achiev e th e captur e efficiencie s neede dt o fee da n incinerator . *Ou r industry i s s o complex , especiall y fo r companie s unde r

$1 5 millio n i n sale s wh o ar e custo mmolder s o r

nich e produc t

companies , i t

may b e impossibl e t o identif y a subcategory o r

grou p fo r

whic hincinerator s mak e sense . * Companie s hav e bee n focuse dfor anumbe r

o f year s t o achiev e lo w styren e emissio n concentration s t o protec t ou r workers , whic hmakes incinerator s mor e expensive . *Fo r pigmente dge l coa l w e nee daHA P limi t o f 37 % o r higher . *W e fil l resin s a

t level s fro m10 % t o 50% , an dal l o f thes e shoul dmee t

th e MAC T definitio n o f

afille dsystem . *MAC T need s t o allo w th e us e o f not-yet-develope dtechnologies , lik e ane w generatio n o f

resi n applicatio n guns , o r somethin g that

i s ne w an drevolutionary . *On e o f th e specificatio n advantage s Fiberglas s System s ha s i n th e developmen t o f ou r nich e produc t

lin e i s th e us e o f

ahigh-HA P toolin g resi n a s acomponen t o f awhee l chai r accessibl e showe r

stall . Thi s ha s afforde du s aleve l o f succes s i n amarke t

wher e ou r competitor s ar e 3 0 t o 5 0 time s large r tha n u s an di n th e majority o f case s owne db y billio nP. 3 pag e 2 dollar holdin g companies . Th e MAC T yo u develo p need s t o allo w thos e o f u s wh o ar e smal l busines s t o continu e t o hav e th e ability t o compet e i n th e marke t place . Styren e shoul dno t

eve n b e o n th e lis t

for th e hos t o f reason s yo u ar e alread y cognizant . I f yo u an dother s ar e correc t an dther e i s no t

th e politica l wil l t o refin e th e Clea n Ai r Act , yo u d o hav e i t withi n you r

authority t o develo p aMAC T that modifie s ho w styren e i s managed . Removin g styren e an di n th e proces s dumpin g emission s i n th e ai r that ar e prove n t o hav e environmentall y negativ e impact s make s n o logica l sense . T o selec t thi s proces s becaus e i t i s eas y t o monito r

o r regulat e i s circumventin g th e overridin g goal , whic hi s cleane r air . I wa s raise dt o believ e that "eas y i s no t

alway s th e bes t

way " an di t

wa s disturbin g t o m e whe n I hear dyo u say incineratio n i s th e metho do f choic e becaus e i t

wil l b e eas y t o monito r an denforce . Workin g togethe r t o achiev e cleane r

ai r shoul db e ou r

collectiv e goal . Removin g on e pollutan t

an di n th e proces s generatin g a n eve n greate r

environmenta l har m i s no t correc t b y an y logica l standards . I t i s tim e t o acknowledg e that incineratio n i s aba d ide aan dt o mov e o n t o bette r options . I n th e particular

situatio n of

Fiberglas s System s incineratio n i s very problematic . A s I understan dth e engineerin g requirement s relaye dt o m e b y m y plan t enginee r fro mhi s consultatio n withFrees , Inc. , th e stac k need s t o b e 30 % highe r

tha n th e to p o f

ou r building . B y th e tim e I mee t

th e stac k requirement s i t

woul dfal l ont o th e railroa drigh t o f way , beyon dou r

propert y boundary , creatin g an uninsurabl e risk . O n th e othe r sid e o f th e buildin g th e loca l fire departmen t ha s no t allowe dany obstruction s attache dt o th e buildin g i n th e alle y separatin g property lines . A s I understan dyou r

propose dMACT , th e rul e makin g wil l devastat e th e smal l busines s intentie s that

compris e ahug e portio n o f th e industry employmen t base . B y definitio n a s a grou p w e fabricat e abroadspectru mo f product , whic hi n mos t

companie s d o no t

confor m t o automatio n techniques . I f w e hav e bee n successfu l enoug hs o tha t ou r productio n volume s forc e u s int o "incineratio n levels " i t doe s no t necessaril y relat e that

ou r profi t margin s wil l justif

y th e capita l expenditur e necessary t o instal l th e incineratio n equipment . Captur e efficiencie s yo u ar e proposin g wil l b e extremel y har dt o achiev e whe n th e produc t lin e i s a s varie da s i t

i s i n my company . Fro mwhat I understan dt o b e th e environmen t necessar y t o achiev e acaptur e efficienc y o f 9 5 percent , companie s lik e min e wil l neve r b e abl e t o compl y becaus e o f avariety o f

obstacles , som e o f

whic hI wil l attemp t

t o describe . You r propose dMAC T require s tha t n o mor e tha n tw o percen t o f th e sid e wall s o f

abuildin g can open . Lockin g o r

blockin g door s violate s fire codes . I n ho t climates , lik e Bois e durin g th e summer , i t

i s impractica l an dfutil e t o tel l you r labo r forc e th e rol l u p door s mus t b e secure dshut . Ou r

curren t exhaus t fans , withstrategicall y ope n door s provide s acoolin g effec t o n th e productio n floor . Losin g th e ability t o utiliz e ope n door s woul dprobabl y dictat e th e installatio n o f

ai r conditionin g throughou t

th e productio n plant , whic hwoul dno t economicall y penci l out . But , i f w e coul djustif

y installin g cooler s o n th e make-u p ai r unit s an dthen , a s require db y th e propose dMAC T maintai n 200cf mthroug hany opening s i t wouldno t

b e possibl e t o captur e a

t 9 5 percen t

efficienc y becaus e o f

th e dilutio n tha t

woul dP. 4

** Pag e 3 tak e place . Base do n Fiberglas s System s profitability th e pas t thre e years , an dou r

budge t fo r 200 0 an d2001 , i t

woul db e economi c suicid e t o instal l a n incineratio n syste mtha t mightr cos t a s littl e a s $1,000,000 . Bu t th e cos t wil l b e close r

an dmor e than likel y ove r $2,000,00 0 for

incineratio n plu s th e likel y additiona l cos t o f refrigeratio n for

cooling . Anothe r issu e concernin g installatio n o f a n incinerato r

i s als o pertain s t o any improvemen t o r modificatio n o f

th e curren t

facility tha t

i s equa l t o 5 1 percen t

o f th e fully depreciate d asse t o f th e affecte dprocess . Virtuall y any scenario , includin g th e proces s o f replacin g spray gun s withflow-coater s woul dforc e acompan y th e siz e o f Fiberglas s System s int o a ne w o r reconstructe dMAC T b y tryin g t o compl y withth e propose dMACT . A s I understan di t

yo u hav e buil t

a"catch-22 " int o th e propose dMACT . Eve n i f ther e i s alogica l wa

y t o detennin e sub-group s i t appear s t o m e that

give n th e hug e variet y o f produc t plu s th e wid e variety o f

processe s use dt o produc e thos e product s i t wil l b e impossibl e for

incineration , whic happear s t o b e you r preferre dchoic e t o mee t th e Agencie s definitio n o f

categorie s an dsubcategorie s whic hi s ..." asimilar sourc e a s asourc e tha t ha s comparabl e emissions , an dadesig n an dcapacity structure , suc hthat emission s fro mtha t sourc e can b e controlle dusin g th e sam e contro l technolog y applie dt o th e give n source. " Thi s definitio n doe s no t compl y withth e variou s realitie s open-mol dfabricator s operat e unde r

producin g produc t

usin g avariety o f

processe s meetin g numerou s an dwidel y varie dspecifications . Anothe r proble mthat

need s t o b e addresse di s concentratio n o f fumes . Simpl y state dw e currentl y focu s o n dilutio n o f fume s t o compl y withOSH A rules . You r proposa l wil l requir e concentratio n o f

fumes . Whic hwil l prov e problemati c i n man y o f ou r facilities , plu s mos t likely , pu t

u s i n direc t

violatio n o f

OSH A rules . Whe n rul e makin g b y siste r agencie s conflic t w e ar e place di n a

n "impossibl e situation " an dagai n w e hav e n o choic e bu t t o object . If

captur e an dincineratio n become s th e rul e a s i t i s no w propose dyo u wil l deliberatel y propos e arul e that will , b y it s promulgatio n an denforcement , automaticall y requir e member s o f

thi s industry t o violat e establishe dan dpropose dOSH A rules . Doin g s o wil l no t onl y b e poo r

publi c polic y bu t

ademonstratio n o f

willfu l ba dfait

hi n you r dealing s with , both , th e industry an dyou r siste r agency . Th e conflic t

betwee n OSH A rule s an dth e propose drul e i s real . A s I understan dth e CF Ryo u ar e restricte dfro mpromulgatin g arul e tha t conflict s witha

n existin g rule . Fiberglas s System s i s permitte dfor 24 8 tons . Unde r

you r propose drul e w e wil l b e force d t o pu t i n incineratio n unles s w e reappl y for ne w permits . Currentl y w e shoul db e abl e t o compl y withth e propose drul e b y takin g advantag e o f every opportunity you r

rulin g identifie s a s reducin g styren e emissions . B y th e tim e th e rul e officiall y i s enforce dw e woul di n al l likelihoo dno t comply . I f

w e elec t t o appl y for

ne w permit s unde r

th e propose d MAC T leve l w e wouldhav e n o roo mfo r growthan dplac e ourselve s i n apositio n o f possibl y no t

bein g permitte dfor

ahighe r leve l o f productio n whe n w e hav e th e opportunit y t o grow . I f

w e don' t elec t t o appl y for

ne w permit s w e ar e place di n apositio n tha t i s trul yEJ L Pag e 4 devastatin g t o ou r

busines s a s i t

ha s evolved . Obviousl y after spendin g 3 0 year s i n m

y professio n o f

choic e fabricatin g produc t recognize da s "th e best " i n ou r nich e marke t nationwid e I wil l no t

jus t "fol du p m

y tent " an dg o home . Th e MAC T floor s for

Pigmente dGe l Coatin g i s very troubling . Excludin g ou r Toolin g ge l coa t use , ofwhic h w e consume d1,97 0 pounds , w e use d1 8 differen t color s al l o f

the mwith eithe r a3 7 o r 3 8 percen t

styren e level . Th e combine dusag e for thes e color s i s 6,65 8 pound s o r

fou r percen t o f ou r sales . Bu t

withou r natio n wid e marke t

nich e thi s lo w numbe r i s no t indicativ e o f

th e importanc e o f

offerin g thes e colors . O f th e actua l ge l coat s w e consume donl y th e LO WVO C WHIT E w e hav e trie dha s aHA P o f 30 . Th e 1 0 surfac e coat s w e appl y tha t

ar e 24 % HA P ar e asprayabl e soli dsurfac e finis hw e offer that total s les s tha n on e percen t

o f ou r sales . Personally , I a mconfiden t ou r gel-coat supplier s wil l b e able , over time , t o provid e ge l coat s wit hlowe r HAP S that

consistentl y mee t

industr y standard s an dexpectations . Th e ke y t o succes s i s offerin g sufficien t tim e t o identif

y th e chemistr y an dcreat e material s for th e industry t o use . T o arbitraril y dictat e areductio n o f styren e b y 25 % i n aproduc t a s sensitiv e a s polyeste r

gel-coat i s reckless . A 30 % HA P shoul dwork

for ou r industry i f

ther e i s a10-yea

r phas e i n time . Writ e th e rul e at 4 0 reducin g i t

on e percen t

pe r yea r for 1 0 years . The n everyon e win s includin g th e air . M y concern s o n resi n ar e three-fold . First , Fiberglas s System' s fill s a t thre e differen t

level s dependin g o n th e application . Ou r lowes t rati o i s 1 0 percen t

fille r ou r highes t i s 5 0 percent . Wha t qualifie s a s a"fille dresin? " Identifyin g "flow-coaters " i n th e rul e i s restrictive , confining , capriciou s an darbitrary . But , eve n wors e i t restrain s future developmen t o f equipmen t

advance s for

ou r industry . Ho w wil l th e rul e b e reopene dwhe n ane w revolutionar y piec e o f

equipmen t

i s develope dtha t

currentl y i s no t

eve n conceptual ? Third , whe n i s toolin g resi n classifie da s toolin g resin ? Fiberglas s System s use s toolin g resi n a s a significan t

resi n componen t

o f on e of ou r produc t lines . W e d o s o for

th e propert y reason s mos t fabricator s us e toolin g resi n fo r "tools " instea do f

standar dproductio n resins . Frankly , ther e i s astron g argumen t fo r usin g toolin g resin s for

ou r entir e produc t

line , bu t t o dat e w e hav e electe dt o procee dwiththi s possibilit y very slowly . If w e produc e aproduc t

lin e that use s toolin g resi n ar e w e allowe dunde r th e propose dMAC T t o us e 50 % HA P material ? M y genera l reactio n t o th e propose drul e concernin g resi n i s th e sam e a s for ge l coat , bu t withthi s caveat , "don' t

propos e arul e tha t

limit s th e opportunit y o r potential for

inventio n an dinnovation , th e curren t on e doe s an di f

i t i s adopte dth e oppositio n shoul db e hug e an d organized. " I hav e attempte dt o illustrat e wh y th e propose dMAC T wil l b e devastatin g t o Fiberglas s Systems . W e understan dtha t MAC T i s areality . Ou r

goa l i s that

yo u propos e MAC T that afford s u s a

n opportunit y t o continu e t o provid e stabl e job s an dproduc t i n th e marke t

place , whil e competin g withBi g Business . Trul y Your s Gar y Multane n