SOUTHWEST CLEAN AIR AGENCY

AIR DISCHARGE PERMIT

SWCAA 02-2442R1

Final Date: October 20, 2004

Facility Name: Pacific NW Plating, Inc.

Physical Location: 7000 NE 40th Avenue, Suite A-1

Vancouver, WA 98661

SWCAA ID: 2118

REVIEWED BY:

Paul T. Mairose, Chief Engineer

APPROVED BY:

Robert D. Elliott, Executive Director
Southwest Clean Air Agency Air Discharge Permit

ADP 02-2442R1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section Page

1. Equipment/Activity Identification 1

2. Approval Conditions 1

2.1 Emission Limits 1

2.2 Operating Limits and Requirements 2

2.3 Monitoring and Recordkeeping Requirements 3

2.4 Emission Monitoring and Testing Requirements 3

2.5 Reporting Requirements 3

3. General Provisions 4
Southwest Clean Air Agency Air Discharge Permit

ADP 02-2442R1 1

1. Equipment/Activity Identification

ID No. Equipment/Activity

# of

Units Control Equipment

# of

Units

1 Chromium Electroplating 1 Fumetrol #140 Fume Suppresant NA

2 Nickel Electroplating 2 Wetting Agent NA

3 Copper Electroplating 1 None NA

4 Zinc Electroplating System:

Zinc Plating Tank

HCl Soap Tank

Bright Dip Tank

NA

None

Cover

None

NA

2. Permit Terms and Conditions

The following tables detail the specific requirements of this permit. In addition to the requirements listed 

below, equipment at this facility may be subject to other federal, state, and local regulations. The permit 

requirement number is identified in the left hand column. The text of the permit requirement is contained in the 

middle column. The emission unit, equipment, or activity to which the permit requirement applies is listed in 

the right hand column.

This Permit supersedes Air Discharge Permit SWCAA 02-2442 in its entirety.

2.1 Emission Limits

No. Emission Limits

Equipment/

Activity

1. Combined emissions from plant operations shall not exceed:

Pollutant Emission Limit

Hexavalent Chromium 0.033 lb/yr

Nickel 3.25 lb/yr

Copper 96 lb/yr

Cyanide 5.6 lb/yr

Zinc 135 lb/yr

Methanol 333 lb/yr

Hydrochloric Acid 110 lb/yr

Emissions shall be calculated based on the methodology outlined in Section 6 of the 

Technical Support Document for this Permit.

Plantwide

2. Emissions of toxic air pollutants shall not individually exceed the SQER provided in WAC 

173-460 except those listed in 1 above.

Plantwide

3. Emissions to the atmosphere which cause or contribute to a nuisance odor shall use 

recognized good practice and procedures to reduce these odors to a reasonable minimum.

Plantwide

4. Visible emissions shall not exceed zero percent opacity for more than 3 minutes in any one 

hour period in accordance with SWCAA Method 9 (See Appendix A of SWCAA 400).

Plantwide
Southwest Clean Air Agency Air Discharge Permit

ADP 02-2442R1 2

2.2 Operating Limits and Requirements

No. Operating Limits and Requirements

Equipment/

Activity

5. The surface tension of the chrome plating tank shall not exceed 45 dynes per centimeter. 1

6. Foam blanket on the nickel tanks shall not be less than 1” during plating operations. 2

7. The hydrochloric acid tank shall not be heated and shall be covered when not in use. 4

8. Chrome plating operation shall not exceed 1,000,000 amp-hour/year. 1

9. Nickel plating operation shall not exceed 1,100,000 amp-hour/year. 2

10. Copper plating operation shall not exceed 1,460,000 amp-hour/year. 3

11. Zinc plating operation shall not exceed 1,500,000 amp-hour/year. 4

12. The plating solution liquid level shall be maintained  6" below top of each plating tank. 1-4

13. The ampere-hour accumulators must be operating properly whenever electrical current is 

applied to the tank with one accumulator located on the chromium tank, one accumulator 

on both nickel tanks and one accumulator located on the copper tank.

1-4

14. The stack exhaust for the facility shall not be less than six feet above roof level and the 

exhaust area shall not exceed 4 square feet at the release point.

Plantwide

15. VOC-containing products shall be collected and stored in closed containers. Plantwide

16. Operations that cause or contribute to a nuisance odor shall use recognized good 

practice and procedures to reduce these odors to a reasonable minimum.

Plantwide

17. Each pollution control device shall be operated whenever the processing equipment served 

by that control device is in operation. Control devices shall be operated and maintained in 

accordance with the manufacturer's specifications. Furthermore, control devices shall be 

operated in a manner that minimizes emissions.

1-2

18. Emission units identified in this Permit shall be maintained and operated in total and 

continuous conformity with the conditions identified in this Permit. SWCAA reserves 

the right to take any and all appropriate action to maintain the conditions of this Permit, 

including directing the facility to cease operations until corrective action can be 

completed.

1-4
Southwest Clean Air Agency Air Discharge Permit

ADP 02-2442R1 3

2.3 Monitoring and Record Keeping Requirements

No. Monitoring and Record Keeping Requirements

Equipment/

Activity

19. Surface tension of the chromium plating tank shall be recorded in the O/M log according 

to the following schedule:

(a) Initially record every 4 hours of tank operation (or every 4-amp hours if no hour 

meter installed) for 10 consecutive readings

(b) If no violations occur, record every 8 hours of operation (or every 8-amp hours if 

no hour meter installed) for 5 consecutive readings

(c) If no violations occur, record every 40 hours of operation (or every 40-amp hours 

if no hour meter installed)

(d) If a violation occurs, the monitoring schedule must return to the frequency in 19.a 

for the specified time.

1

20. Foam thickness on the nickel plating tank shall be recorded once per week no sooner than 

30 minutes after the start of nickel plating operations.

2

21. Ampere-hour accumulator readings, calibration, and servicing shall be recorded in the 

O/M log monthly and shall contain the date and name for each entry.

1-4

22. Fume suppressant usage shall be recorded in the O/M log for each addition and shall 

include quantity and time of addition.

1

23. Purchase receipts and MSDSs for all consumable products shall be retained on site for 

inspection by SWCAA.

Plantwide

24. Each record required by this Permit shall include the date and the name of the person 

making the record entry. If a control device or process is not operating during a specific 

time period, a record shall be made to that effect.

Plantwide

25. All records required by this Permit shall be kept for a minimum period of no less than five 

years and shall be maintained in a form readily available for inspection by SWCAA 

representatives.

Plantwide

26. All upset conditions and/or excess emissions shall be recorded for each occurrence. Plantwide

2.4 Emission Monitoring and Testing Requirements

There are no emission monitoring or testing requirements for the approved equipment cited in this ADP.

2.5 Reporting Requirements

No. Reporting Requirements

Equipment/

Activity

27. The permittee shall notify SWCAA in writing within ten (10) days after completing 

initial installation of new equipment. This will allow proper inspections and 

observations to be conducted for the new equipment. 

Plantwide

28. Upset conditions shall be reported to SWCAA as soon as possible in accordance with 

SWCAA 400-107.

Plantwide
Southwest Clean Air Agency Air Discharge Permit

ADP 02-2442R1 4

No. Reporting Requirements

Equipment/

Activity

29. Excess emissions shall be reported to SWCAA in accordance with SWCAA 400-107(1). 

Excess emissions which the permittee wishes to claim as unavoidable must be reported as 

soon as possible, but no later than 48 hours after discovery.

Plantwide

30. Operations of the electroplating facility shall be reported as follows:

(a) Amp-hours of each meter Shall be reported to SWCAA annually by

March 15th

(b) Zinc Bright Dip purchased Shall be reported to SWCAA annually by

March 15th

(c) Summary of emissions Shall be reported to SWCAA annually by 

March 15th.

Plantwide

3. General Provisions

No. General Provisions

A. For the purpose of ensuring compliance with this Permit, duly authorized representatives of the Southwest 

Clean Air Agency shall be permitted access to the permittee's premises and the facilities being constructed, 

owned, operated and/or maintained by the permittee for the purpose of inspecting said facilities. These 

inspections are required to determine the status of compliance with this Permit and applicable regulations 

and to perform or require such tests as may be deemed necessary.

B. The provisions, terms and conditions of this Permit shall be deemed to bind the permittee, its officers, 

directors, agents, servants, employees, successors and assigns, and all persons, firms, and corporations 

acting under or for the permittee.

C. The requirements of this Permit shall survive any transfer of ownership of the source or any portion 

thereof.

D. This Permit shall be posted conspicuously at or be readily available near the source.

E. This Permit shall be invalid if construction/installation has not commenced within eighteen months from 

date of issuance.

F. This Permit does not supersede requirements of other Agencies with jurisdiction and further, this Permit 

does not relieve the permittee of any requirements of any other governmental Agency. In addition to this 

Permit, the permittee may be required to obtain permits or approvals from other agencies with jurisdiction.

G. Compliance with the terms of this Permit does not relieve the permittee from the responsibility of 

compliance with SWCAA General Regulations for Air Pollution Sources, previously issued Regulatory 

Orders, RCW 70.94, Title 173 WAC or any other applicable emission control requirements, nor from the 

resulting liabilities and/or legal remedies for failure to comply.

H. If any provision of this Permit is held to be invalid, all unaffected provisions of the Permit shall remain in 

effect and be enforceable.

I. No change in this Permit shall be made or be effective except as may be specifically set forth by written 

order of the Southwest Clean Air Agency upon written application by the permittee for the relief sought.
Southwest Clean Air Agency Air Discharge Permit

ADP 02-2442R1 5

No. General Provisions

J. The Southwest Clean Air Agency may, in accordance with RCW 70.94 impose such conditions as are 

reasonably necessary to assure the maintenance of compliance with the terms of this Permit, the 

Washington Clean Air Act, and the applicable rules and regulations adopted under the Washington Clean 

Air Act.
October 20, 2004

Anthony Sicilia

Pacific NW Plating, Inc.

7001 NE 40th Avenue

Vancouver, WA 98661

Subject: Final Approval for Relocation of an Electroplating Facility

Dear Mr. Sicilia:

We have not received any adverse response from the public relative to the Preliminary 

Determination of Order of Approval SWCAA 02-2442R1 for your Air Discharge Permit 

Application Number CL-1650 submittal. Based upon the lack of critical response and the fact that 

more than 30 days time has passed since your notice to the public was placed in the newspaper, we 

are pleased to issue your final Order of Approval.

This Order of Approval may be appealed directly to the Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB) 

at P.O. Box 40903, Olympia, Washington 98504-0903 within 30 days of receipt of this Order as 

provided in RCW 43.21B.

Sincerely,

Robert D. Elliott

Executive Director

RDE:nlk

Attachment

cc: Ray Nye (NESHAP Subpart N) Final Only

Federal & Delegated Programs Unit

US EPA Region X

1200 6th Avenue, AT-082

Seattle, WA 98101