Department of Ecology – Mission

Our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington’s environment, and to promote the wise management of our air, land and water for the benefit of current and future generations Volatile Organic Compound Regulations The VOC regulations are easily found in the Washington Administrative Code: Chapter 173-490 WAC EMISSION STANDARDS AND CONTROLS FOR SOURCES EMITTING VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOC)  This chapter is an 18 page document containing the relevant VOC content and emission regulations and definitions: Pg 4: 490-025AC 173-490-025 General applicability – lists exemptions and Pg 5: WAC 173-490-040 Requirements – a long list of emission rules followed by VOC content limits on pg 8. Pg 8 (6) Surface coaters.  VOC content limits for product whose coatings are cured in a drier. The balance of the regulations specify VOC emission limits from manufacturing processes, rather than content limits of products used in manufacturing. Page 15. WAC 173-490-204 Graphic arts systems – specifies VOC collection requirements as a % of base level emissions Page 15. WAC 173-490-205 Surface coating of miscellaneous metal parts and products – specifies content limits for VOCs in coatings applies in a wide variety of products. Page 17. WAC 173-490-207AC 173-490-207 Surface coating of flatwood paneling – limits VOCs per square meter of product, rather than limiting the VOC content of the coating used. Page 18. WAC 173-490-208 Aerospace assembly and component coating operations  – specifies content limits for VOCs in coatings applied in aerospace operations.