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The California Air Resources Board (ARB) has issued an advisory
regarding the use of chemical fume suppressants containing
perfluorinated octane sulfonate (PFOS). 

On September 19, 2012, the United States Environmental Protection
Agency (U.S. EPA) published final amendments to the National
Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs) – Hard
and Decorative Chromium Electroplating and Chromium Anodizing
Tanks.  Effective September 21, 2015, the NESHAP bans PFOS-based
fume suppressants for use in chrome plating operations.  However,
ARB granted facilities a one year extension from this ban to
allow for the time needed to certify new non PFOS fume
suppressants.  Once this extension ends on September 21, 2016,
the owner or operator of a hard chrome plating, decorative chrome
plating, or chromic acid anodizing tank, including enclosed tanks
and trivalent chromium tanks, may not add PFOS-based fume
suppressants to any electroplating tank.  For more information on
complying with the NESHAP, please see the advisory posted at: 
http://www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/chrome/pfosadvisoryfinalaug2016.pdf

Information on the Chrome ATCM and additional information on fume
suppressants can be found on our website at
http://www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/chrome/chrome.htm.  

For facilities that are required to use a certified fume
suppressant, the list of certified fume suppressants can be found
here:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/chrome/fumesuppresslist0416.pdf. 
This list will be updated as new products become certified or if
surface tensions are revised for fume suppressants. 

If you have questions regarding chrome plating operations outside
of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD),
please contact Michelle Komlenic, Air Pollution Specialist, at
(916) 322-3926 or via email at michelle.komlenic@arb.ca.gov. 
Facilities located within the SCAQMD should contact Mitch Haimov,
Senior Engineering Manager, at (909) 396-3129 or via email at
mhaimov@aqmd.gov.

Background:
Facilities in California are subject to the Chrome ATCM.  Many of
California’s facilities are required to use a certified fume
suppressant to meet hexavalent chrome emission limits. 
Facilities located in the SCAQMD are subject to Rule 1469 which
states that only ARB/SCAQMD certified non-PFOS fume suppressants
will be allowed to be used by chrome plating/anodizing
facilities.  California maintains a list of certified fume
suppressants which have undergone testing to meet hexavalent
chromium emission standards.  

Currently, ARB has certified three non-PFOS fume suppressants for
use in chrome plating operations, and is continuing to work with
non-PFOS fume suppressant manufacturers to test and certify
additional products.  SCAQMD is in the process of completing its
certification of these products.



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