U.S. EPA Area Source MACT Proposal for Plating, Polishing & Thermal Spray

On March 14, 2008, EPA published a proposed air pollution regulation that applies to new and existing area sources of plating and polishing that use/emit any of the plating and polishing metal Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAP) in tanks or thermal spraying processes. These HAPs are cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, or nickel. The proposed regulation also applies to dry mechanical polishing operations used to remove or polish products with these metal HAPs.

In most cases, the proposed standard is more likely to involve changing management practices rather than purchasing new equipment, although some add-on devices may be needed. The final rule is expected to be published sometime later in 2008 and existing area sources will have two years from then to comply.

Below is the link to the proposed rule titled 40 CFR Part 63, National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Area Source Standards for Plating and Polishing Operations; Proposed Rule:

http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/area/fr14mr08.pdf

A fact sheet summarizing the rule is also available. (Sarina, this should link to the attached document “plating prop fs030608.dpf”)

Below is a link to the complete listing of 40 CFR Part 63 - National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Source Categories (a.k.a. Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT))

http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/permitting/air/rules/federal/63/63hmpg.html