EPA’s first consolidated air pollution regulation combines 16 existing federal air rules applying to synthetic organic chemical manufacturers, significantly reducing monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting requirements for industry without reducing any environmental protection, according to the agency.

The regulation is voluntary: manufacturers can continue to do what they do now (complying with up to 16 rules separately), or choose to comply with the new rule. Like the original rules, the consolidated rule continues to require stringent reductions in emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and air toxins.