Plating and Polishing Operations

This rule affects 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.

• EPA’s area source (6W) website [link:  https://www.epa.gov/stationary-sources-air-pollution/plating-and-polishing-national-emission-standards-hazardous-air] with rule, technical and implementation information 

• EPA resources for clean air standards for all metal production facilities

• The Surface Technology Environmental Resource Center provides a one-stop shop for industry-specific environmental compliance and pollution prevention resources.

  • They have compliance assistance materials specific for air rules, including 6W [link: http://sterc.org/compliance/compliance.cfm#air].

• Region 5 states SBEAP is working with the National Association of Surface Finishers to create a compliance packet specific to plating and polishing operations. Pending final publication in mid-2017, the tools listed below will be available for use in all states:

  • Brief rule summary

  • Notification form template

  • Compliance self-assessment checklist