Do You Have a Chrome Electroplating or Chrome Anodizing Tank?

If you do, the U.S. EPA regulates it.

(EPA logo graphic)

Here's what you have to do:


Hard Chrome Tanks:

Install a pollution control device or system such as a:

-Packed Bed Scrubber (monitor inlet velocity pressure and pressure drop across scrubber daily).

-Composite Mesh Pad System (Monitor the pressure drop across the system daily).

-Foam Blanket (monitor foam thickness hourly).

-Fiber Bed Mist Eliminator (monitor pressure drop for eliminator and upstream control daily).

-Wetting Agency-type Fume Suppressant (monitor surface tension every 4 hours).


Perform a stack test to determine your chrome emissions (tell us when you intend to do this)

(graphic of smokestacks)

-Emissions must be lower than .015 mg/per dry standard cubic meter (mg/dscm) if you are a large plater or a new source, or .03 mg/dscm if you are an existing small plater.


Decorative Chrome Tanks Using Chromic Acid Baths/Chrome Anodizing Tanks:

-Emissions have to be lower than .01 mg/dscm OR use a Wetting Agent-Type Fume Suppressant and keep the surface tension of the chrome bath below 45 dynes/cm.

 
Everyone must send their state or local environmental agency and EPA the following:

(graphic of hand writing with pen on paper)

-Initial notification that tells us how many tanks you have, what you are doing (hard, decorative, or anodizing), and how you are controlling chrome emissions.

-A compliance status report that includes the results of your initial performance test.

 
Everyone must maintain records that include the following:

-O&M manuals;

-Breakdowns and repairs;

-Inspections of the equipment;

-When and how much fume suppressant you added;

-Excess emissions.


This pamphlet does not replace the existing regulation. There are additional requirements such as ongoing compliance status reports, that are in the regulation. For more information regarding these requirements please see:

40CFR Part 63 Subpart N (National Emissions Standards from Hard and Decorative Chromium Electroplating and Chromium Electroplating and Chromium Anodizing tanks) or visit: http//www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/chrome/chromepg.html

(EPA Region 3 Air Protection Division logo graphic)

If you have any questions CALL US!

Thomas F. Gleave at 215-814-2155 or gleave.thomas@epa.gov

***

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1650 Arch Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103