Contributing Writer
- FMA
- The Fabricator
- FABTECH
- Canadian Metalworking
Categories
- Additive Manufacturing
- Aluminum Welding
- Arc Welding
- Assembly and Joining
- Automation and Robotics
- Bending and Forming
- Consumables
- Cutting and Weld Prep
- Electric Vehicles
- En Español
- Finishing
- Hydroforming
- Laser Cutting
- Laser Welding
- Machining
- Manufacturing Software
- Materials Handling
- Metals/Materials
- Oxyfuel Cutting
- Plasma Cutting
- Power Tools
- Punching and Other Holemaking
- Roll Forming
- Safety
- Sawing
- Shearing
- Shop Management
- Testing and Measuring
- Tube and Pipe Fabrication
- Tube and Pipe Production
- Waterjet Cutting
Industry Directory
Webcasts
Podcasts
FAB 40
Advertise
Subscribe
Account Login
Search
Machining association chips away at ozone proposal
- By Stephen Barlas
- April 2, 2015
If the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) selects the lowest ozone ceiling as part of the new rulemaking it is considering, precision machining companies will be hit hard by the cost of new controls equipment they will have to buy.
That is the concern of Miles Free, co-interim executive director, Precision Machined Products Association (PMPA). He was responding to a request from the EPA to all industries to give their thoughts on reducing the ozone standard from its current 75 parts per billion to 65-70 PPB. The comment period closed in March. Emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and volatile organic chemicals from manufacturing operations, particularly those that are heavy users of solvents, mix when exposed to sunlight to form ground-level ozone, also known as smog.
EPA estimated that the additional annualized costs of achieving a 65-PPB standard for areas other than California would be about $15.4 billion, which about $4.2 billion would be “known” controls and about $11.3 billion would be “unknown” controls.
“In the precision machining industry, well-maintained equipment can last decades, and small businesses like our members can ill afford to invest millions of dollars in new machines because of an EPA regulation,” Free explained. “The average cost of equipment in our industry is $250,000 to $500,000, meaning a smaller company would have to generate one year’s worth of revenue before they would recover the cost of the new machine they had to purchase.”
Currently, 227 counties are designated as nonattainment for the 75-PPB standard. Under the proposed rule the EPA issued last December, the number of counties designated as non-attainment would rise to 358 under the 70-PPB standard and to 558 under the 65-PPB standard.
Free explained that if the EPA’s 65-PPB standard takes effect, virtually all PMPA members will find themselves in a nonattainment zone, restricting their manufacturing activity. Currently manufacturing-heavy regions such as Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and South Bend, Ind., are exceeding the 2008 National Ambient Air Quality Standards of 75 PPB. In Ohio, where PMPA is based, the new EPA standard places every single county in the state into nonattainment status.
subscribe now
The Fabricator is North America's leading magazine for the metal forming and fabricating industry. The magazine delivers the news, technical articles, and case histories that enable fabricators to do their jobs more efficiently. The Fabricator has served the industry since 1970.
start your free subscriptionAbout the Author
Stephen Barlas
- Stay connected from anywhere
Easily access valuable industry resources now with full access to the digital edition of The Fabricator.
Easily access valuable industry resources now with full access to the digital edition of The Welder.
Easily access valuable industry resources now with full access to the digital edition of The Tube and Pipe Journal.
Easily access valuable industry resources now with full access to the digital edition of The Fabricator en Español.
- Podcasting
- Podcast:
- The Fabricator Podcast
- Published:
- 04/30/2024
- Running Time:
- 53:00
Seth Feldman of Iowa-based Wertzbaugher Services joins The Fabricator Podcast to offer his take as a Gen Zer...
- Industry Events
Pipe and Tube Conference
- May 21 - 22, 2024
- Omaha, NE
World-Class Roll Forming Workshop
- June 5 - 6, 2024
- Louisville, KY
Advanced Laser Application Workshop
- June 25 - 27, 2024
- Novi, MI
Precision Press Brake Certificate Course
- July 31 - August 1, 2024
- Elgin,