Air Quality Inspections Continue in Maryland

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) continues to conduct air quality compliance inspections in our area. Typically, MDE contacts the company by phone notifying them of the agencies intent to conduct an air quality inspection. Then, an email or fax is sent a few days before the visit that includes a checklist and a reminder of the inspection. The actual inspections have been short according to members that have been inspected. Once the inspection is finished, the inspector provides feedback and makes suggestions based on their findings. We are not aware of any citations that have been issued because of the inspections.

Primarily the inspections are intended to bring Permit to Construct records up-to-date. MDE requires that companies that have non-heatset sheetfed offset lithographic printing presses with rollers that are 18” or greater have an air quality permit. Most printing companies can apply for a simplified General Permit to construct if the following criteria are met:

• Facility has only non-heatset sheetfed offset lithographic printing presses;
• Facility uses 1,000 gallons or less of fountain solution concentrate per year;
• Facility does not use any clean-up solvent or fountain solution concentrate containing the following chemicals:*

CAS # Common Names

75-09-2 Methylene chloride or Dichloromethane

64741-41-9 Heavy aliphatic petroleum distillate

29911-28-2 Dipropylene glycol butyl ether

*Refer to updated SDS sheets for all cleaning solvents and fountain solutions to determine whether these chemicals are present

In addition, the inspectors do look at some related items including:

• the use of alcohol in fountain solution,
• the storage of VOC waste materials in closed containers,
• whether lids of VOC containing materials are maintained when the materials are not in use,
• whether facilities have in writing good operating practices to minimize use of VOC containing materials for persons cleaning printing equipment,

For the first time, emissions from digital presses are included on the inspection checklist. Also requested are plant-wide emissions for the past 2 years. PGAMA has a template for VOC handling procedures and a spreadsheet for calculating plant-wide emissions.

If you receive a notice of inspection, contact Paul Foster at PGAMA for material explaining what to expect and how to prepare. 

2017 USPS Promotions

The 2017 Mailing Promotions continue to build on the engagement strategies of past Promotions. To demonstrate that direct mail continues to be a relevant part of the marketing mix and has the potential to offer greater value, the Postal Service is encouraging customers to adopt and invest in technologies that enhance how consumers interact and engage with mail. This improves the long-term value of the product, providing substantial benefits in future years.  Check them out here.

Powerful Capital Investment Incentives

Pro-growth capital investment is a top government affairs priority of both NPES and Printing Industries of America, and both Associations have urged Congress to enact tax policies that reflect the economic power of rapid capital cost recovery. In response, Congress has enacted legislation making Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 179 Expensing permanent, and extending IRC Section 168(k) Bonus Depreciation for five years, retroactive to January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2019. Attached is a summary of these new tax laws and their very significant benefits to printers and their suppliers.

PGAMA welcomes Philip Gray as Virginia Director of Membership

 Phil brings his 30 years of experience as a Commercial Printing Company owner (Progressive Printing), 9 years as a Secondary High School Vocational Printing Instructor and 10 years as a Board member to the former PIVA to assist PGAMA in maintaining Virginia members and creating new membership opportunities in Virginia for Printers and Suppliers. PGAMA is anxious to bring programs, benefits and events to Virginia to grow the association in the Mid-Atlantic area.  Please welcome Phil to the PGAMA family.  If you have referrals, please contact him at 703-850-8865 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Changes to Fair Labor Standards Act

CHANGES TO THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT ANNOUNCED

The United States Department of Labor (DOL) announced today major alterations to the overtime exemption classifications under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). These changes have dramatic ramifications for all employers and it is strongly advised that you familiarize yourself with them as they may affect your budgeting for 2017.

Beginning December 1, 2016, the salary threshold for overtime exempt employees will increase from $23,660 to $913 per week or $47,476 annually for a full-year worker. This means that any employee whose salary is less than $47,476 will be eligible for overtime pay beyond their normal 40 hours per week schedule. Updates to the salary threshold levels will occur automatically every three years (with at least 150 days notice and effective January 1, 2020). 

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Immediate Action Required! New SEC Rule

The SEC has proposed a regulation that could substantially impact the financial printing business. There is strong and growing opposition to this rule and we are getting great support from legislators, led by Representatives Bruce Poliquin (R-Maine) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) who have offered a provision to counter this rule. Time is short and every comment counts.

PLEASE SEE THE DETAIL BELOW TO LEARN HOW YOU CAN SHARE YOUR OPPOSITION TO THIS RULE. THE DEADLINE TO COMMENT IS THE END OF DAY, WEDS JUNE 8th.  

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has proposed a new “Investment Company Reporting Modernization Rule” (Rule 30e-3), which would allow mutual funds to discontinue the mailing of shareholder reports and other important investment information to investors. Instead, shareholder reports would be posted on a fund’s website. If allowed to proceed, Rule 30e-3 will potentially harm millions of investors – the majority of whom have already expressed a preference for paper-based investment materials.

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2016 Survey of MIS

PIA has completed the 2016 Survey of Management Information Systems, marking the eleventh consecutive year they have produced this free, useful guide for members. The survey results are compiled from questionnaires sent to MIS software vendors, documenting the functionality, cost, and other pertinent information for the vast majority of software packages. This year’s edition is the largest ever. The PDF is below

PIA is now in the midst of working on the 2016 Survey of Mailing Software and will have this ready to distribute to you by year end.

Scam Alert

Major Scam Operation Attacking Our Industry Locally

There is a fraudulent direct marketing agency headquartered in  Montreal & Toronto that has successfully scammed at least two PGAMA members in recent weeks.   They are operating a highly sophisticated scam and have been stealing from numerous vendors and thousands of consumers for over a year.  The names of the individuals will vary, the packages they are looking to mail will also vary, but the primary organization operates under Direct Response MKT and the “client" they represent is Global Media.

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New Member Benefit: Employers Choice Screening

Employers Choice Screening has been selected to provide employment background checks to all members of the Printing and Graphics Association MidAtlantic. Our legally compliant results help employers reduce workplace violence, theft, fraud, substance abuse and negligent hiring liabilities.

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