National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants; Proposed Standards for Chromium Emissions From Hard and Decorative Chromium Electroplating and Chromium Anodizing Tanks Vol. 58,No. 240 Part II 58 FR 65768 Thursday, December 16, 1993 AGENCY: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) DOC TYPE: Proposed Rules CFR: 40 CFR Part 63 NUMBER: AD-FRL-4810-5; RIN 2860-AC14 DATES: DATES: Comments: Comments must be received on or before February 14, 1994. Public Hearing: If anyone contacts EPA requesting to speak at a public hearing by January 6, 1994, a public hearing will be held on January 18, 1994, beginning at 10 a.m. CONTACT: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information concerning regulatory decisions and the proposed standards, contact Mr. Lalit Banker, Standards Development Branch ((919) 541-5420). For information concerning technical aspects of chromium electroplating and anodizing tanks or control technologies, contact Mr. Phil Mulrine, Industrial Studies Branch ((919) 541-5289). The address for each of these contacts is Emission Standards Division (MD-13), U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711. ADDRESS: ADDRESSES: Comments: Comments should be submitted (in duplicate if possible) to: Air Docket (LE-131), Attention: Docket Number A-88-02, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460. Public Hearing: If anyone contacts EPA requesting a public hearing, the hearing will be held at the EPA Office of Administration Auditorium in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Persons interested in attending the hearing or wishing to present oral testimony should notify Mrs. Julia Latta, Standards Development Branch (MD-13), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, telephone number (919) 541- 5578. Background Information Document: The background information document (BID) and other documents supporting the proposed standards may be obtained from the docket or from the U.S. EPA Library (MD- 35), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, telephone number (919) 541-2777. Please refer to "Chromium Electroplating NESHAP- Background Information Document for Proposed Standards" (Volume I: EPA- 453/R-93-030a and Volume II: EPA-453/R-93-030b) and to "Chromium Electroplating NESHAP-New Technology Document" (EPA-453/R-93- 031). Docket: Docket No. A-88-02, containing supporting information used in developing the proposed standards, is available for public inspection and copying between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at EPA's Air Docket Section, West Tower Lobby, Gallery 1, Waterside Mall, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460. A reasonable fee may be charged for copying. ACTION: ACTION: Proposed rule and notice of public hearing. SUMMARY: SUMMARY: The proposed standards would limit emissions of chromium compounds from new and existing chromium electroplating and anodizing operations; both major and area sources are being regulated. The proposed standards implement section 112 of the Clean Air Act, as amended. The intent of the standards is to protect the public health by minimizing the amount of chromium emitted from new and existing chromium electroplating and anodizing operations. These sources must achieve an emissions level consistent with the installation and operation of maximum achievable control technology (MACT). The EPA is also proposing Methods 306, 306A, and 306B with the standards. These methods would be used to demonstrate compliance with the standards. WORD COUNT: 57,186 TEXT: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information presented in this preamble is organized as follows: I. Background II. National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants Decision Process A. Source of Authority for NESHAP Development B. Criteria for Development of NESHAP C. Categorization/Subcategorization: Determining Maximum Achievable Control Technology Floors D. Regulatory Approach and Regulatory Alternatives III. Overview of Proposed Standards A. Applicability of the Standards B. Format of the Standards C. Actual Standards and Their Bases D. Test Methods for Compliance E. Monitoring Requirements F. Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements IV. Impacts of the Standards A. Hard Chromium Electroplating Tanks B. Decorative Chromium Electroplating Tanks C. Chromium Anodizing Tanks V. Process Description and Description of Control Technologies A. Process Descriptions B. Description of Control Technologies VI. Rationale for Selection of the Proposed Standards A. Selection of Pollutant and Source Categories to be Regulated B. Selection of Emission Points to be Covered by the Standard C. Selection of Basis and Level of Proposed Standards for Existing and New Sources D. Selection of the Format of the Proposed Standards E. Selection of the Emission Limits F. Selection of Definition of Source G. Selection of Monitoring Requirements H. Selection of Test Methods I. Selection of Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements J. Operating Permit Program K. Solicitation of Comments VII. Administrative Requirements A. Public Hearing B. Docket C. Executive Order 12866 D. Paperwork Reduction Act E. Regulatory Flexibility Act F. Miscellaneous I. Background In 1984, the EPA began an investigation of chromium electroplating operations as a source of chromium emissions in conjunction with a notice of intent to list total or hexavalent chromium as a hazardous air pollutant (HAP) under section 112 of the Clean Air Act (50 FR 24317). This study focused on chromium emissions from chromium electroplating and anodizing tanks. (Due to the focus of this study, information was not obtained on HAP emissions from other metal plating processes such as nickel, copper, and cadmium plating. As a result, these processes are not included in today's proposal.) During this study, it was determined that chromium electroplating and anodizing tanks were significant emitters of chromic acid, the principal ingredient in chromium electroplating and anodizing baths. Chromic acid is a hexavalent chromium compound. The EPA has determined that there is strong evidence to conclude that hexavalent chromium compounds cause lung cancer in humans. This conclusion was documented in the notice of intent to list total or hexavalent chromium (50 FR 24317).