SECTION 115.453. Control Requirements

(a) The following control requirements apply to surface coating processes subject to this division. Except as specified in paragraph (3) of this subsection, these limitations are based on the daily weighted average of all coatings, as defined in §101.1 of this title (relating to Definitions), as delivered to the application system.

(1) The following limits must be met by applying low-volatile organic compound (VOC) coatings to meet the specified VOC content limits on a pound of VOC per gallon of coating basis (lb VOC/gal coating) (minus water and exempt solvent), or by applying coatings in combination with the operation of a vapor control system, as defined in §115.10 (relating to Definitions), to meet the specified VOC emission limits on a pound of VOC per gallon of solids basis (lb VOC/gal solids). If a coating meets more than one coating type definition, then the coating with the least stringent VOC limit applies.

(A) Large appliances. If a coating does not meet a specific coating type definition, then it can be assumed to be a general-use coating and the VOC limit for general coating applies.

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(B) Metal furniture. If a coating does not meet a specific coating type definition, then it can be assumed to be a general-use coating and the VOC limit for general coating applies.

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(C) Miscellaneous metal parts and products. If a coating does not meet a specific coating type definition, then it can be assumed to be a general-use coating and the VOC limit for general coating applies.

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(D) Miscellaneous plastic parts and products. If a coating does not meet a specific coating category definition, then it can be assumed to be a general-use coating and the VOC limit for general coating applies.

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(E) Automotive/transportation and business machine plastic parts. For red, yellow, and black automotive/transportation coatings, except touch-up and repair coatings, the VOC limit is determined by multiplying the appropriate limit in Table 1 of this subparagraph by 1.15.

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(F) Pleasure craft. If a coating does not meet a specific coating category definition, then it can be assumed to be a general-use coating and the VOC limits for other coatings applies.

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(2) The coating VOC limits for motor vehicle materials applied to the metal and plastic parts in paragraph (1)(C) - (F) of this subsection, as delivered to the application system, must be met using low-VOC coatings (minus water and exempt solvent).

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(3) The coating VOC limits for automobile and light-duty truck assembly surface coating processes must be met by applying low-VOC coatings.

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(A) The owner or operator shall determine compliance with the VOC limits for electrodeposition primer operations on a monthly weighted average in accordance with §115.455(a)(2)(D) of this title (relating to Approved Test Methods and Testing Requirements).

(B) As an alternative to the VOC limit in Table 1 of this paragraph for final repair coatings, if an owner or operator does not compile records sufficient to enable determination of the daily weighted average, compliance may be demonstrated each day by meeting a standard of 4.8 lb VOC/gal coating (minus water and exempt solvent) on an occurrence weighted average basis. Compliance with the VOC limits on an occurrence weighted average basis must be determined in accordance with the procedure specified in §115.455(a)(2) of this title.

(C) The owner or operator shall determine compliance with the VOC limits in Table 2 of this paragraph in accordance with §115.455(a)(1) or (2)(C) of this title, as appropriate.

(4) The coating VOC limits for paper, film, and foil surface coating processes must be met by applying low-VOC coatings to meet the specified VOC content limits on a pound of VOC per pound of coating basis, as delivered to the application system, or by applying coatings in combination with the operation of a vapor control system to meet the specified VOC emission limits on a pound of VOC per pound of solids basis, as delivered to the application system.

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(5) An owner or operator applying coatings in combination with the operation of a vapor control system to meet the VOC emission limits in paragraph (1) or (4) of this subsection shall use the following equation to determine the minimum overall control efficiency necessary to demonstrate equivalency. Control device and capture efficiency testing must be performed in accordance with the testing requirements in §115.455 (a)(3) and (4) of this title.

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(b) Except for the surface coating process in subsection (a)(2) of this section, the owner or operator of a surface coating process may operate a vapor control system capable of achieving a 90% overall control efficiency as an alternative to subsection (a) of this section. Control device and capture efficiency testing must be performed in accordance with the testing requirements in §115.455(a)(3) and (4) of this title. If the owner or operator complies with the overall control efficiency option under this subsection, then the owner or operator is exempt from the application system requirements of subsection (c) of this section.

(c) The owner or operator of any surface coating process subject to this division shall not apply coatings unless one of the following coating application systems is used:

(1) electrostatic application;

(2) high-volume, low-pressure (HVLP) spray;

(3) flow coat;

(4) roller coat;

(5) dip coat;

(6) brush coat or hand-held paint rollers; or

(7) for metal and plastic parts surface coating processes specified in §115.450(a)(3) and (4) of this title (relating to Applicability and Definitions), airless spray or air-assisted airless spray; or

(8) other coating application system capable of achieving a transfer efficiency equivalent to or better than that achieved by HVLP spray. For the purpose of this requirement, the transfer efficiency of HVLP spray is assumed to be 65%. The owner or operator shall demonstrate that either the application system being used is equivalent to the transfer efficiency of an HVLP spray or that the application system being used has a transfer efficiency of at least 65%.

(d) The following work practices apply to the owner or operator of each surface coating process subject to this division.

(1) For all coating-related activities including, but not limited to, solvent storage, mixing operations, and handling operations for coatings and coating-related waste materials, the owner or operator shall:

(A) store all VOC-containing coatings and coating-related waste materials in closed containers;

(B) minimize spills of VOC-containing coatings;

(C) convey all coatings in closed containers or pipes;

(D) close mixing vessels and storage containers that contain VOC coatings and other materials except when specifically in use;

(E) clean up spills immediately; and

(F) for automobile and light-duty truck assembly coating processes, minimize VOC emissions from the cleaning of storage, mixing, and conveying equipment.

(2) For all cleaning-related activities including, but not limited to, waste storage, mixing, and handling operations for cleaning materials, the owner or operator shall:

(A) store all VOC-containing cleaning materials and used shop towels in closed containers;

(B) ensure that storage containers used for VOC-containing cleaning materials are kept closed at all times except when depositing or removing these materials;

(C) minimize spills of VOC-containing cleaning materials;

(D) convey VOC-containing cleaning materials from one location to another in closed containers or pipes;

(E) minimize VOC emissions from cleaning of storage, mixing, and conveying equipment;

(F) clean up spills immediately; and

(G) for metal and plastic parts surface coating processes specified in §115.450(a)(3) - (5) of this title (relating to Applicability and Definitions), minimize VOC emission from the cleaning of application, storage, mixing, and conveying equipment by ensuring that equipment cleaning is performed without atomizing the cleaning solvent and all spent solvent is captured in closed containers.

(3) The owner or operator of automobile and light-duty truck assembly surface coating processes shall implement a work practice plan containing procedures to minimize VOC emissions from cleaning activities and purging of coating application equipment. Properties with a work practice plan already in place to comply with requirements specified in 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §63.3094(b) (as amended through April 20, 2006 (71 FR 20464)), may incorporate procedures for minimizing non-hazardous air pollutant VOC emissions to comply with the work practice plan required by this paragraph.

(e) A surface coating process that becomes subject to subsection (a) of this section by exceeding the exemption limits in §115.451 of this title (relating to Exemptions) is subject to the provisions in subsection (a) of this section even if throughput or emissions later fall below exemption limits unless emissions are maintained at or below the controlled emissions level achieved while complying with subsection (a) of this section and one of the following conditions is met.

(1) The project that caused throughput or emission rate to fall below the exemption limits in §115.451 of this title must be authorized by a permit, permit amendment, standard permit, or permit by rule required by Chapters 106 or 116 of this title (relating to Permits by Rule; and Control of Air Pollution by Permits for New Construction or Modification, respectively). If a permit by rule is available for the project, the owner or operator shall continue to comply with subsection (a) of this section for 30 days after the filing of documentation of compliance with that permit by rule.

(2) If authorization by permit, permit amendment, standard permit, or permit by rule is not required for the project, the owner or operator shall provide the executive director 30 days notice of the project in writing.

Source Note: The provisions of this §115.453 adopted to be effective December 29, 2011, 36 TexReg 8897; amended to be effective November 14, 2013, 38 TexReg 7956; amended to be effective June 25, 2015, 40 TexReg 3907