WITHDRAWAL OF SUIT SUGGESTS PAINT INDUSTRY RETREAT ON OTC OZONE PLAN

Paint company Sherwin-Williams is dropping its lawsuit against a Pennsylvania state ozone plan to limit volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, indicating the paint industry may be forced to retreat from similar fights in a slew of other Eastern states, observers say. Instead, the company is negotiating with officials in Pennsylvania and several other states for a five-year variance for two categories of products -- stains and indoor varnishes. The company says it lacks the technology to produce these products in...