LAWSUIT OVER PAINT COATINGS DATA MAY IMPACT STATE REGULATORY EFFORTS

The state of New York is suing EPA to obtain undisclosed data on how extensively paint manufacturers exceed permitted federal levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in paint and coatings, and the data could have significant impacts on efforts in Northeast states to control these compounds, state officials and activists say. EPA's rule for regulating VOC content in architectural, industrial and maintenance (AIM) coatings allows companies to exceed the limits for a fee, though industry officials and EPA say the...