Welcome to AHFA's Environmental Toolbox, a resource designed to make your job as a home furnishings industry environmental professional easier.
Fact sheets, guidance documents, technical memoranda and presentations from regulatory agencies are provided here in all major environmental areas, including air quality, water quality, hazardous waste and environmental management. Use the Quick Reference index down the left-hand side of the page to advance quickly to your area of interest.
AHFA is recognized by governmental and regulatory agencies as the authoritative voice of the furniture industry on environmental issues. An Action Committee on the Environment (ACE), comprised of environmental professionals from AHFA member companies, helps identify training and educational needs, as well as issues requiring action.
The committee maintains a comprehensive, online Environmental Guide with detailed information on environmental regulations and legislation of particular interest to the furniture and cabinet manufacturing industries. The guide, which members can access online, also provides news and links to many useful sites for furniture and cabinet industry environmental professionals.
With leadership from AHFA professional staff, environmental executives from AHFA member companies are actively engaged in developing solutions to regulatory and compliance issues. These solutions typically involve offering educational programs and practical tools to help companies meet their obligations under today's increasingly complex federal and state regulations. Altogether, this process is referred to as "SET" – Solutions, Education and Tools – and it serves as the foundation of all AHFA environmental efforts.
Events
AHFA holds workshops throughout the year as needed to respond to specialized training and educational needs.
Special Counsel for Environmental Affairs: 
Environmental questions of a legal nature may be directed to the following attorney. There is no charge for any advice or information that can be provided in a single phone call. If additional research is required to respond to a member inquiry, the attorney will discuss billing arrangements prior to any expenses being incurred.
Alan McConnell
Kilpatrick Stockton LLP
3737 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 400
Raleigh, NC 27612
Phone: 919/420-1798
Fax: 919/420-1800
Enhancing Furniture's Environmental Culture
– EFEC
EFEC is a voluntary environmental management system created by AHFA in 1999 to help its members develop and maintain strong, proactive environmental programs. EFEC provides a systematic approach for reviewing and improving your company's operations for better environmental performance and improved profitability. In addition, many states now offer specific benefits for companies with an environmental management system in place. These benefits may include less reporting, fewer inspections, permit flexibility, faster permit approvals, government recognition and reduced permit and application fees.
Go to EFEC >
Environmental Guide
AHFA's Environmental Guide contains detailed information on environmental regulations and legislation of particular interest to the furniture and cabinet manufacturing industries. The guide also provides news and links to many additional websites containing information and data that is useful for furniture and cabinet industry environmental professionals. Adobe Acrobat software is needed to view the guide and can be downloaded free of charge from the Introduction page of the guide.
Go to the Environmental Guide >
Homeland Security
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a Final Rule for Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards.
Go to Homeland Security >
Fuels Testing Protocol
In February 2004 the Environmental Protection Agency finalized the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Industrial/ Commercial/ Institutional Boilers and Process Heaters – known as Boiler MACT. AHFA provides member companies with this "tool box" for Boiler MACT compliance. The documents help companies determine whether they must comply with the Boiler MACT and, if so, how to bring their facility into compliance in the most cost-effective and efficient manner possible.
Go to Fuels Testing Protocol >
Solid Finishing Residue Best Management
Practices
AHFA has taken a proactive step toward addressing the growing concerns of handling and disposing of furniture finishing solids residue generated from various furniture finishing operations. These Best Management Practices have been reviewed by AHFA members and their suppliers and are available for other member companies to review and evaluate.
Go to Solid Finishing Residue Best
Management Practices >
Boiler MACT
In addition to the final Boiler MACT, published February 27, 2004, this page includes a link to the 227-page Boiler MACT compliance manual developed by AHFA and published in December 2004.
Go to the Boiler MACT page >
CAM Guidance
In addition to a variety of support documents, this page includes the Compliance Assurance Monitoring rule, amendment, overview and frequently asked questions.
Go to the CAM page >
Metal MACT
The 42-page final Rule of National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Surface Coating of Metal Furniture is housed on the Metal MACT page, along with a brochure that provides an overview of the final rule and various support documents.
Go the Metal MACT page >
Plywood MACT
This page includes the 503-page Final Rule of National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Plywood and Composite Wood Products. In addition to the final Plywood MACT rule, the page includes a fact sheet and other support documents.
Go to the Plywood MACT page >
Benton Work Group
The Benton Work Group page contains copies of correspondence between AHFA and the North Carolina Department of Environment & Natural Resources, Division of Air Quality, dating from April 2002 in an effort to resolve certain air permitting concerns.
Go the Benton Work Group page >
Water Quality
Presentations to the Environmental Concerns Committee on Water Quality
Go to presentations >
List Server
AHFA's List Server is a convenient way to share ideas and opinions, as well as an effective means of conducting group discussions. Participants choose a topic, send their comments in an e-mail to one address, and those comments are distributed to all the other users signed up under that topic area. This creates a conversation via e-mail.
Go to List Server >
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General Guidance