Printshops can potentially emit air pollutants into the atmosphere and therefore may be regulated by state and federal regulations. Facilities that use solvents and inks that contain volatile organic compounds, hazardous air pollutants, and toxic air pollutants may need an air quality permit to construct and/or a Tier I (Title V) operating permit. Click here for more information about air quality permitting in Idaho on this Web site.

In addition, printshops that have publication rotogravure, product and packaging rotogravure, or wide-web flexographic printing presses and that emit or have the potential to emit 10 tons per year or more of any hazardous air pollutants or 25 tons per year or more of any combination of hazardous air pollutants are subject to the federal National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs) (Subpart KK, 40 CFR 63.820-831), which regulate 188 hazardous air pollutants from particular industrial sources. Click here for more information on NESHAPs on this Web site.

Publication rotogravure printing presses that were constructed, modified, or reconstructed after October 28, 1980, are subject to the federal New Source Performance Standards: Standards of Performance for the Graphic Arts Industry: Publication Rotogravure Printing (Subpart QQ, 40 CFR 60.430-435). Click here for more information on NSPS on this Web site.

Print shops can have an impact on Idaho's surface and ground waters and may be subject to federal water quality standards and the National Pollutant Elimination Discharge System (NPDES) program. Under this program, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the discharge of pollutants into any water body of the U.S., including storm water sewer systems. Depending on the activities and services provided, a print shop may need its own NPDES general permit for direct or indirect discharge. If the shop is located within a city that has an NPDES permit, it may be subject to the city's pretreatment and storm water requirements.

Click here to learn more about NPDES permits (U.S. EPA Web Site).

Environmental Resource Guide for Printers

(DEQ Fact Sheet, July 2003: pdf 68 kb, 1 page)

Pollution Prevention and Hazardous Waste Management Tips for Printshops

(DEQ Fact Sheet, July 2003: pdf 81 kb, 2 pages)

Pollution Prevention Assessment Project (2003): Printing, Publishing and Allied Industries

(DEQ Report, July 2003: pdf 70 kb, 13 pages)

Pollution Prevention Checklist for Printshops

(DEQ Checklist, July 2003: pdf 113 kb, 1 page)

Questions to Ask about Your Waste Storage Site

(DEQ Checklist, July 2003: pdf 72 kb, 1 page)

Printer's National Environmental Assistance Center

> Pollution Prevention Opportunities

Compliance Assistance for the Printing Industry

(U.S. EPA Web Site)