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The California Air Resources Board (ARB) has approved a one-year
extension for the continued use of PFOS fume suppressants in
chrome plating operations. 

In September 2012, the United States Environmental Protection
Agency (U.S. EPA) published the final amendments to the National
Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants  – Hard and
Decorative Chromium Electroplating and Chromium Anodizing Tanks
(40 C.F.R. Part 63, Subpart N (commencing with § 63.340), 77 Fed.
Reg. 58219 (September 19, 2012)) (Chrome NESHAP).  Among other
things, the regulation sets a ban on the use of perfluorooctane
sulfonic acid (PFOS) in fume suppressants, effective September
21, 2015. 
 
On September 17, 2015, on behalf of all chrome plating
facilities, with the exception of those located in the South
Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), the Metal
Finishing Association of Southern California and Northern
California requested a one-year extension of the PFOS phase-out
to allow for continued testing, and to further evaluate the
efficacy and feasibility of non-PFOS fume suppressants in their
chrome plating operations.  A separate request was submitted to
the SCAQMD for facilities located within the District.  SCAQMD
will be working with their chrome plating facilities on the
implementation of this request. 

On September 21, 2015, ARB granted this request for an additional
year extension.  The extension will allow for the continued
testing of non-PFOS fume suppressants and their ability to meet
all federal, State, and local emission control requirements for
hexavalent chromium.

ARB and SCAQMD have done extensive testing on, and are continuing
to test non-PFOS fume suppressants and expect to have a non-PFOS
product(s) certified for use in California within the next year. 
Once a non-PFOS fume suppressant becomes certified, we will
update the list of certified fume suppressants on our website at:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/chrome/fumesuppresslist.pdf 
Copies of the extension request letter and ARB’s approval letter
can be found on our chrome plating website at
http://www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/chrome/chrome.htm.  We will be
posting a fact sheet soon with additional detail on current
chrome plating requirements.  

If you have questions regarding chrome plating operations, please
contact Ms. Michelle Komlenic, Air Pollution Specialist (916)
322-3926 or via email at michelle.komlenic@arb.ca.gov.  Questions
related to chrome plating operations located in the South Coast
Air Quality Management District should be directed to Amir
Dejbakhsh, Senior Air Quality Engineering Manager (909) 396-2618
or via email at adejbakhsh@aqmd.gov.

Background:
Chrome plating facilities are subject to California’s Hexavalent
Chromium Airborne Toxic Control Measure for Chrome Plating and
Chromic Acid Anodizing Operations (Chrome ATCM).  Facilities
located in the SCAQMD are subject to Rule 1469.  ARB received
delegated authority from the U.S. EPA on March 15, 1999, to
implement the Chrome ATCM, in place of the Chrome NESHAP as the
Federally-enforceable standard in California. 
 
Many of California’s facilities are required to use a certified
fume suppressant to meet hexavalent chrome emission limits. 
California maintains a list of certified fume suppressants which
have undergone testing to meet hexavalent chromium emission
standards.  To date, only PFOS-containing fume suppressants have
been certified.  Over the next year, ARB and SCAQMD will continue
to work with fume suppressant manufacturers to test additional
non-PFOS fume suppressants for certification.



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