NASF-EPA Meeting:

Mist Suppressants & Long Chain 

PFC Issues

April 15, 2010

Christian Richter, NASF

Jeff Hannapel, NASF

Washington, DC
Industry-EPA Discussion:

Goals & “Solutions Focus”

 Advance and broaden our dialogue with EPA / States / POTWs

 Provide additional technical information on LC PFC alternatives

 Discuss solutions re LC PFCs in surface finishing

 Accelerate transition to more sustainable alternatives

 Review benefits of industry-EPA partnership

 Voluntary AND regulatory options

 Maintain industry compliance with strict standards

 Cr6 MACT standard

 OSHA Cr6 PEL standard

 Understand and recognize certain challenges
Industry Overview

 Surface Finishing Industry (NAICS 332813) 

 Electroplating, Plating, Polishing, Anodizing & Coloring 

 ~ 2000 U.S. firms / chromium operations are subset

 Highly regulated – across media programs

 Types of finishing operations

 Job Shops – small businesses (80% < 75 employees)

 Captive Operations – part of larger manufacturer

 Use of Long Chain PFCs in Surface Finishing

 Mist suppressants for Cr6 metal plating and etching baths

 Success – persistence in harsh chemical environment

 Industry Request for plating exemption in SNUR (2006-07)

 Managing technology transition to alternatives
History: Uses of Long Chain PFCs

Key factor: Beneficial role in minimizing Cr6 releases

 For chromium electroplating & related processes

 Ingredients in mist suppressants to achieve:

 Air emissions control 

 Worker exposure control

 4 types of processes that have used LC PFCs

 Hard Chromium

 Decorative Chromium

 Chromic Acid Anodizing

 Chromic Acid Etch

 Range of manufacturing supply chains – auto, aerospace 

defense, electronics, industrial equipment
Use Drivers: EPA & OSHA Regulations

EPA Chromium NESHAP – Hard and Decorative Chromium 

Electroplating and Chromium Anodizing Tanks (1995) 

 Amended to allow compliance via fume suppressants (2004)

OSHA Chromium PEL – 53 ug/m3 to 5 ug/m3 (2006)

 The new, much lower PEL is technologically feasible 

because of effective mist suppressants

California – SCAQMD Rule 1469

 Approved certain fume suppressants for use

 Allows companies to demonstrate compliance with federal 

chromium NESHAP
Options for Long Chain PFCs: 

Elimination or Reduction 

 Status of Alternative Mist Suppressant 

Chemistries 

 Industry Best Practices
Status of LC PFC Alternatives:

Commercialization Has Advanced
Recent Industry / EPA Action

 EPA Action on 2007 SNUR

 Plating Exemption w/monitoring of Minnesota

 Broader action – European Union, Environment Canada

 NASF Engagement with EPA

 Industry Policy Forum – status of alternatives (April 2008)

 Ongoing discussion, periodic updates on alternatives

 Minnesota Industry Data – Brainerd

 “Controlled Experiment” – model for predicting reductions

 EPA Region 5 Electroplating Study

 Chicago / Cleveland – NASF outreach with industry

 Industry engagement with POTW community – NACWA
Industry “Partnership” Proposal

Pilot project – develop a practical approach to addressing risk and 

potential human exposure issues related to PFCs

 Project Goals

 Limit long-chain PFC releases to the environment

 Promote greener alternatives to long-chain PFCs

 Reduce concentrations of certain PFCs

 Compliance with the Cr6 MACT standards

 Focus 

 Multi-media opportunity to address concurrent Air, Toxic 

Chemical, Sludge/Biosolids & Clean Water goals

 KEY EMERGING ISSUE – POTW Biosolids Quality
EPA PFC “Themes” – Project Elements

 Air-Specific Goals & Priorities

 Work with USEPA to get reasonable reduction/elimination of 

long-chain PFCs through the Cr6 MACT RTR (August 2010)

 Water-Specific Goals & Priorities

 Work with POTWs/MPCA/USEPA to accomplish water quality 

protection and address biosolids concerns from POTWs 

 Toxics-Specific Goals & Priorities

 MNAMF / NASF will collaborate with local/state agencies to 

develop a voluntary project for EPA’s Chemicals Action Plan

 USEPA Benefit – By integrating water quality, air emissions and 

P2 concerns with toxics/exposure prevention, NASF creates an 

extremely high-priority and key voluntary program for EPA
NASF PROJECT:

Industry / EPA / State / POTWs

“Sustainable Technology Initiative”

3 Parts

(1) PROGRESS – Finishing Industry efforts to date

(2) PARTICIPATION – Expand industry involvement on substitutes 

and best management practices for fume suppressants use

(3) PERFORMANCE – Over some timeframe, how are we doing 

on PFC reductions?
Results of Moving to Alternative:

Chromium Bath at Job Shop (2007-10)

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Concentration (ppb)

Date

PFOS in Chrome (ppb)
Results of Moving to Alternative:

Waste Treatment at Job Shop (2007-10)

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Concentration (ppb)

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PFOS in Waste Treatment Clarifier
Emerging Options for Reducing

Long-Chain PFC Uses in Plating

 EPA Chromium NESHAP Risk & Technology 

Review (RTR) Proposed Rule – Fall 2010

 EPA Chemical Action Plan for Long-Chain 

PFCs

 Minnesota Initiatives Underway
Upcoming NASF Discussions on

Mist Suppressants and Sustainability
Planning: Next Steps

 Upcoming Industry Meetings – Apr/Jun 2010

 EPA-Industry Partnership – Commitments

 Regulatory Issues – Optimizing approach