Plating and Polishing: National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Area Sources
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Rule Summary
On June 12, 2008, EPA issued final national air toxics standards for smaller-emitting sources, known as area sources, in the plating and polishing industry. The requirements of this final rule apply to existing and new area sources in the plating and polishing industry. The final rule will affect an estimated 2,900 existing plating and polishing facilities and applies to plating and polishing tanks, dry mechanical polishing operations, and thermal spraying operations that use or emit compounds of one or more of the following metal toxic air pollutants: cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, and nickel. The final rule includes management practices such as the use of wetting agent/fume suppressants. It requires equipment standards such as the use of tank covers or control devices, and the capture and control of emissions from thermal spraying and dry mechanical polishing. EPA amended this final rule in September 2011 to clarify certain aspects of the 2008 rule.
Rule History
09/19/2011 - Final rule; withdrawal of direct final rule (pdf) (178 KB)
06/20/2011 - Proposed rule (June 2011) (pdf) (153 KB) & Direct final rule; amendments (pdf) (180 KB)
07/01/2008 - Final rule (pdf) (221 KB)
03/14/2008 - Proposed rule (March 2008) (pdf) (239 KB)
Additional Resources
View the supporting documents in the docket folder to find additional related documents to the rules.