The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized Precoat Metals, a Division of Sequa Coatings Corp., for joining the National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP).

The company’s commitment includes the reduction of naphthalene solvents within the paint formulations used for daily coil coating operations. Precoat Metals anticipates a reduction of 9,000 pounds of naphthalene per year as a result of the change in paint formulation.

“EPA commends Precoat Metals for joining this voluntary program and their commitment to reducing the release of priority chemicals into the environment,” said EPA Regional Administrator Jimmy Palmer. “By doing so, they are demonstrating how innovation in production can lead to increased public health protection and environmental improvement.”

Commenting on the recognition, Plant Manager Tim Zell said, “Throughout the Precoat organization, we take seriously our responsibility to protect the health and safety of our employees and the members of the communities where we operate, and to safeguard the quality of the environment. We are proud to be a part of the NPEP and appreciate the recognition accorded to us by the Environmental Protection Agency.”

Precoat Metals, a leading nationwide supplier of a diverse range of organic coating services, has been in operation since 1962. The company serves customers in the building, container and manufactured products markets. They apply protective and decorative coatings to coils of steel and aluminum in a continuous process precisely calibrated to provide consistent, even coating of the substrate.

EPA formed the National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP) to pursue the goal of reducing the use or release of 31 highly-toxic priority chemicals found in America’s manufacturing processes. It has established a National Waste Minimization Goal to act as a measurement of program success. The goal is to work with industry and the public to reduce the use or release of 4 million pounds of priority chemicals by 2011.