NORTHERN SONOMA COUNTY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT

REGULATION 3 - SECTION 2

RULE 2-100 - TITLE

AIRBORNE TOXIC CONTROL MEASURE FOR HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM EMISSIONS FROM CHROME PLATING AND CHROMIC ACID ANODIZING OPERATIONS

This regulation is adopted pursuant to the provisions of Section 93102, Titles 17 and 26, California Code of Regulations (CCR).

RULE 2-100 - PURPOSE
On January 23, 1986, pursuant to Section 39662 of the Health and Safety Code, the Air Resources Board (ARB) identified hexavalent chromium as a toxic air contaminant for which there is not sufficient available scientific evidence to support identification of a threshold exposure level below which no significant adverse health effects are anticipated (see Title 17, California Code of Regulations, Section 93000). This airborne toxic control measure will reduce hexavalent chromium emissions from chrome plating and chromic acid anodizing operations and resulting cancer risk and cancer incidence to the lowest level achievable through application of best available control technology at operations subject to this measure.

RULE 2-100 - APPLICABILITY
This regulation shall apply to any decorative or hard chrome plating facilities, or to any chromic acid anodizing facilities, which are in operation at the time this measure is adopted, or begin operation at any time after this measure is adopted.

RULE 2-130 - DEFINITIONS

1. AMPERE-HOURS: The integral of electrical current applied to a plating tank (amperes) over a period of time (hours).
2. ANTI-MIST ADDITIVE: A chemical which reduces the emission rate from the tank when added to and maintained in the plating tank.
3. CHROME: Metallic chrome.
4. CHROME PLATING: Either hard or decorative plating.
5. CHROMIC ACID: an aqueous solution of chromium trioxide (CrO3), or a commercial solution containing chromic acid, dichromic acid (H2CrO7), or trichromic acid (H2Cr3O10).
6. CHROMIC ACID ANODIZING: The electrolytic process by which a metal surface is converted to an oxide surface coating in a solution containing chromic acid.
7. CHROMIUM: Hexavalent chromium.
8. CONTROL EQUIPMENT: any device which reduces emissions from the emissions collection system.
9. DECORATIVE CHROME PLATING: The process by which chromium is electrodeposited from a solution containing compounds of chromium onto an object resulting in a chrome layer 1 micron (0.04 mil.) thick or less.
10. EMISSION FACTOR: The mass of chromium emitted during a test conducted in the emissions collection system in accordance with ARB Test Method 425, divided by the ampere-hours consumed by the tanks in the tested emissions collection system, expressed as the mass of chromium emitted per ampere-hour of electrical current consumed.
11. EMISSIONS COLLECTION SYSTEM: A device or apparatus used to gather chromium emissions from the surface of a chrome plating or chromic acid anodizing tank or tanks.
12. FACILITY: A business or businesses engaged in chrome plating or chromic acid anodizing which are owned or operated by the same person or persons and are located on the same parcel or on contiguous parcels.
13. FACILITY WIDE EMISSIONS FROM HARD CHROME PLATING OR CHROMIC ACID ANODIZING: The total emissions from all hard chrome plating or chromic acid anodizing at the facility over a calendar year. Emissions shall be calculated as the sum of emissions from the emissions collection system at the facility. The emissions from an emissions collection system shall be calculated by multiplying the emission factor for that emission collection system by the sum of ampere-hours consumed during that year for all the tanks served by the emissions collection system.
14. HARD CHROME PLATING: The process by which chromium is electroplated from a solution containing compounds of chromium onto an object resulting in a chrome layer thicker than 1 micron (0.04 mil).
15. PLATING TANK: Any container used to hold a chromium or chromic acid solution for the purposes of chrome plating or chromic acid anodizing.
16. UNCONTROLLED CHROMIUM EMISSIONS FROM THE HARD CHROME PLATING OR CHROMIC ACID ANODIZING FACILITY: The chromium emissions form the emissions collection systems at the facility calculated as if no control equipment is in use. For the purpose of determining compliance with this rule, the uncontrolled chromium emissions shall be calculated using an emission factor based on tests conducted in accordance with ARB Test Method 425 or 14 mg/ampere- hour, whichever is less.

RULE 2-200 - PERMITS

1. Any owner or operator of an existing chrome plating or chromic acid anodizing facility shall file an application for an Authority to Construct with the District. The application shall be filed with the District prior to applicable deadline specified in Rule 2-600 - Compliance Schedule, and the applicant shall pay the fees as specified in Rule 2-300 - Fees.
   
   
2. Any owner of a new chrome plating or chromic acid anodizing facility constructed after January 1, 1990 shall file an application for an Authority to Construct with the District prior to construction, and shall pay the fees as specified in Rule 2- 300 - Fees.

RULE 2-300 - FEES

1. INITIAL FEE
   
   
   1. Every applicant for an Authority to Construct at any existing chrome plating or chromic acid anodizing facility as required by this regulation shall pay an initial application fee of $200.00 at the time of the filing of the application.
      
      
   2. Every applicant for an Authority to Construct a new chrome plating or chromic acid anodizing facility as required by this regulation shall pay an initial application fee of $200.00 at the time of the filing of the application.
      
      
2. ANNUAL RENEWAL FEE: On February 1, 1991, and each February 1 thereafter, all holders of a Permit to Operate shall be notified by the District of the annual permit renewal fees of $100.00 per chrome plating or chromic acid anodizing facility.
   
   
3. TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP: Where an application is filed for a Permit to Operate any chrome plating or chromic acid anodizing facility by reason of transfer of owner, and where a Permit to Operate has been previously been granted under Rule 2-200, and no modifications to the facility have been made, the applicant shall pay a $10 transfer fee.
   
   
4. ALTERATION OF EQUIPMENT: Where an application is filed for an Authority to Construct or a Permit to Operate exclusively involving revisions to the conditions of an existing Authority to Construct or Permit to Operate or involving alterations or additions resulting in a change to any existing chrome plating or chromic acid anodizing facility holding a permit under the provisions of this regulation, the permit fee shall be recalculated to show any rating changes and pro-rated for the balance of the annual permit period.
   
   
5. DUPLICATE PERMIT: A request for a duplicate Permit to Operate shall be made in writing to the District within 10 days after the destruction, loss or defacement of a Permit to Operate and shall contain the reason a duplicate is being requested. A fee of $10 shall be paid for a duplicate Permit to Operate.
   
   
6. LATE FEE PENALTY: If any chrome plating or chromic acid anodizing facility is constructed or operated without the owner or operator obtaining an Authority to Construct in accordance with Rule 2-200, the applicant shall be assessed a late fee penalty which is one and one-half times the applicable initial fee. The assessment of a late fee penalty shall not limit the District's right to pursue any other remedy provided for by law.

RULE 2-400 - HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM CONTROL FORM CHROME PLATING AND CHROMIC ACID ANODIZING FACILITIES

1. REQUIREMENTS FOR DECORATIVE CHROME PLATING FACILITIES: No person shall operate a decorative chrome plating tank unless an anti-mist additive is continuously maintained in the plating tank, or control equipment is installed and used, in a manner which has been demonstrated to and approved by the District air Pollution Control Officer as reducing chromium emissions by 95 percent or more relative to chromium emissions when an anti-mist additive is not maintained, or control equipment is not installed and used.
   
   
2. REQUIREMENTS FOR HARD CHROME PLATING AND CHROMIC ACID ANODIZING FACILITIES
   
   
   1. The owners or operators of all hard chrome plating and chromic acid anodizing facilities shall maintain a continuous record of current integrated over time (ampere- hours) for all plating tanks for each collection system used in the hard chrome plating or chromic acid anodizing operations and shall, within six months after District adoption of regulations enacting this control measure, and upon request thereafter, submit the information to the District Air Pollution Control Officer.
      
      
   2. No person shall operate a plating tank for hard chrome plating or chromic acid anodizing unless the tank has an emissions collection system whose design and whose operational parameters are approved by the Air Pollution Control Officer.
      
      
   3. No person shall operate a hard chrome plating or chromic acid anodizing tank at a facility if facility wide chromium emissions from hard chrome plating or chromic acid anodizing are less than 2 pounds per year, unless:
      
      
      1. the chromium emissions from the emissions collection system serving the plating tank have been reduced by 95 percent or more of the uncontrolled chromium emissions or
      2. the chromium emissions from the emissions collection system serving the plating tank have been reduced to less than 0.15 milligrams (mg) of chromium per ampere-hour of electrical charge applied to the plating tank.
         
         
   4. No person shall operate a hard chrome plating tank or chromic acid anodizing tank at a facility if facility wide chromium emissions from hard chrome plating or chromic acid anodizing are greater than 2 pounds per year, but less than 10 pounds per year, unless
      
      
      1. the chromium emissions from the emissions collection system serving the plating tank have been reduced by at least 99 percent of the uncontrolled chromium emissions for the hard chrome plating or chromic acid anodizing facility or
      2. the chromium emissions from the emissions collection systems are reduced to less than 0.03 mg of chromium per ampere-hour of electrical charge applied to the tanks.
         
         
   5. No person shall operate a hard chrome plating or chromic acid anodizing tank at a facility if facility wide chromium emissions from hard chrome plating or chromic acid anodizing are 10 pounds per year or greater, unless
      1. the chromium emissions from the emissions collection system serving the plating tank have been reduced to by at least 99.8 percent of the uncontrolled chromium emissions from the hard chrome plating or chromic acid anodizing facility or
      2. the chromium emissions from the emissions collection systems are reduced to less than 0.006 mg of chromium per ampere-hour electrical charge applied to the tanks.

RULE 2-600 - COMPLIANCE SCHEDULE

1. DECORATIVE CHROME PLATING FACILITIES: No later than 90 days from date of adoption the owner or operator of the decorative chrome plating tanks must comply with the provisions of Rule 2- 400(a).
   
   
2. HARD CHROME PLATING AND CHROMIC ACID ANODIZING FACILITIES

1. No later than 12 months from date of rule adoption, the owner or operator of a hard chrome plating or chromic acid anodizing facility subject to Rule 2-400(b)(3) and (b)(5) shall submit to the District Air Pollution Control Officer an application for an Authority to Construct the equipment necessary to meet the requirements of this Rule, and no later than 18 months from date of rule adoption, the facility shall be in compliance with all the requirements of Rule 2-400 (b)(3).
   
   
2. No later than 18 months from date of rule adoption, the owner or operator of a hard chrome plating or chromic acid anodizing facility subject to Rule 2-400(b)(4) shall submit to the District Air Pollution Control Officer an application for an Authority to Construct the equipment necessary to meet the requirements of this Rule, and no later than 24 months from date of adoption of this rule, the facility shall be in compliance with all the requirements of Rule 2-400(b)(4).
   
   
3. No later than 30 months from date of rule adoption, the owner or operator of a hard chrome plating or chromic acid anodizing facility subject to Rule 2-400(b)(5) shall submit to the District Air Pollution Control Officer an application for an Authority to Construct the equipment necessary to meet the requirements of this Rule, and no later than October 6, 1994, the facility shall be in compliance with all the requirements of Rule 2-400(b)(5).

NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 39600, 39601, 39650 and 39666, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 39650 and 39666, Health and Safety Code