Solvents generally are subject to a wide variety of federal and state regulations governing their manufacture, processing, distribution, use and disposal. These include regulations governing the storage and disposal of hazardous wastes, workplace exposure limits, requirements for the safe transport of chemical substances, and regulations pertaining to the release of chemicals to environmental media, including air, land, and water. This section focuses on federal programs that regulate emissions of solvents to air, with a particular emphasis on programs designed to reduce emissions of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and listed hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). Because these programs can have a significant impact on solvent users, it is important to understand how these programs work.
While this regulatory section focuses on federal programs, it also highlights a few, selected state programs that affect solvents. Solvent users may be affected by additional state-specific programs, depending on their locations. To learn more about regulatory requirements in a particular area, solvent users should contact the appropriate state or local government agency.
Federal Solvents Regulations
State Solvents Regulations
Recent Solvent Industry Developments
