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EPA Approves Ohio VOC Emission Limit for Life Raft Manufacturing - 5.9 lbs VOC per Gallon Standard

EPA approved Ohio’s State Implementation Plan (SIP) submittal establishing a 5.9 pounds of volatile organic compounds per gallon (lbs. VOC/gallon) emission limit for RFD Beaufort, Inc.’s life raft manufacturing facility in Wadsworth, Ohio. The alternate control technology limit applies specifically to the facility’s nylon reinforced polyurethane adhesive process at 1420 Wolf Creek Trail. Ohio EPA submitted the SIP revision on May 2, 2025, and EPA finalized approval on March 23, 2026.

What This Facility-Specific Limit Means

The 5.9 lbs. VOC/gallon standard represents an alternate control technology approach under Ohio’s SIP for this single manufacturing operation. RFD Beaufort produces life rafts using nylon reinforced polyurethane adhesives that emit volatile organic compounds during the manufacturing process.

What this means in practice: The facility must demonstrate compliance with this specific emission rate rather than meeting broader VOC control requirements that might apply to similar manufacturing operations. The limit becomes part of Ohio’s federally enforceable air quality plan.

How This Affects Environmental Consulting Work

Air Quality Permitting

If you work on air permits for manufacturing facilities using adhesive processes, this approval demonstrates how Ohio EPA and EPA handle facility-specific alternate control technology limits. The 5.9 lbs. VOC/gallon threshold provides a reference point for similar polyurethane adhesive operations.

SIP Development Projects

Consultants preparing SIP submittals for Ohio facilities can reference this approval as precedent for alternate control technology approaches. The May 2025 submittal to March 2026 approval timeline shows the current federal review process duration.

VOC Emission Calculations

The specific 5.9 lbs. VOC/gallon rate applies only to RFD Beaufort’s nylon reinforced polyurethane adhesive process. Other adhesive manufacturing operations would need their own facility-specific limits or must comply with applicable VOC control requirements under Ohio’s broader SIP provisions.

Bottom Line

This facility-specific approval affects only RFD Beaufort’s Wadsworth plant but establishes precedent for alternate control technology limits in Ohio’s SIP. The 5.9 lbs. VOC/gallon standard becomes federally enforceable for this single operation. For broader Ohio air quality requirements, see our Ohio VAP Program Overview for cleanup standards that may apply to contaminated sites.

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