EPA tightens plywood manufacturing emission standards

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to tighten regulations regarding hazardous air pollutants emitted during the manufacturing of plywood and composite wood products. Operating under the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants program, these regulations aim to mitigate health risks for workers, nearby communities, and consumers.

Since the establishment of the initial federal rule in 2004, oversight has evolved through judicial reviews and technical amendments. A 2007 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit removed certain exemptions, while 2020 amendments clarified compliance during facility startup, shutdown, and malfunction periods.

Regulated substances include formaldehyde, methanol, acetaldehyde, acrolein, phenol, and propionaldehyde. Recent regulatory actions, including a 2023 proposal and further amendments finalized in 2026, focus on setting maximum achievable control technology standards to address previously unregulated emissions and improve reporting and testing accuracy.