California Code of Regulations › Title 17 - Public Health › Division 3 - Air Resources › Chapter 1 - Air Resources Board › Subchapter 7.5 - Airborne Toxic Control Measures › Section 93103 - Regulation for Chromate Treated Cooling Towers

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) Definitions. In this regulation,
hexavalent chromium
and
chromate
are
				  substances identified as toxic air contaminants by the Air Resources Board.
You, yours, I
, and
my
mean the person who
				  owns or operates, or who plans to build, own, or operate, a cooling tower. The
district
is the local air pollution control district or air
				  quality management district. A cooling tower is a device which evaporates
				  circulating water to remove heat from a process, a building, or a refrigerator,
				  and puts the heat into the ambient air.
Must
means a provision
				  is mandatory, and may means a provision is permissive.
(b) Who must comply with this regulation? Any
				  person who owns or operates, or who plans to build, own, or operate, a cooling
				  tower must comply with this regulation.
(c) What must I do to comply with this
				  regulation? To comply with this regulation, you must:
notify the district in writing about your cooling
					 tower,
and
not add any hexavalent chromium-containing compounds to the
					 cooling tower circulating water,
and
keep the hexavalent chromium concentration in the cooling
					 tower circulating water less than 0.15 milligrams hexavalent chromium per liter
					 of circulating water,
and
test the circulating water to determine the concentration
					 of hexavalent chromium every six months,
and
keep the results of all required tests of circulating water
					 for two years, and give them to the district when asked.
(d) What information must I send the
				  district? Within 90 days after the effective date of this regulation, you must
				  write and tell the district the following:
that you own or operate a cooling tower,
and
where the cooling tower is located,
and
who is the owner or operator of the cooling tower,
and
whether or not you use hexavalent chromium in the cooling
					 tower,
and
if you are using hexavalent chromium, when you plan to
					 stop.
(e) When must I comply
				  with the hexavalent chromium limits? You must stop adding hexavalent
				  chromium-containing compounds to the circulating water in your cooling tower
				  and meet the 0.15 milligrams per liter hexavalent chromium concentration limit
				  no later than 180 days after the effective date of the regulation. This is the
				  compliance date for the regulation.
(f) For how long do I have to test the
				  circulating water? If, after the effective date of this regulation, 2
				  consecutive required tests showing concentrations of hexavalent chromium less
				  than 0.15 milligrams of hexavalent chromium per liter of circulating water,
				  then the testing requirement is ended. All other requirements remain the same.
				  The district may, however, require you to resume testing the circulating water
				  at any time if the district has information that the circulating water may
				  contain hexavalent chromium.
(g)
				  How do I test the circulating water for hexavalent chromium? You must test the
				  circulating water to determine hexavalent chromium concentrations using
				  American Public Health Association Method 312B, or an equivalent method
				  approved by the district. You will find Method 312B in a book called
Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater
,
				  Sixteenth Edition, published by the American Public Health Association, and
				  available at libraries and bookstores nationwide.
(h) I use hexavalent chromium in a wooden
				  cooling tower. Even if I stop adding hexavalent chromium on the compliance
				  date, hexavalent chromium from the wood may cause the concentration in the
				  circulating water to exceed 0.15 milligrams per liter for a time after the
				  compliance date. How may I avoid being cited immediately after the compliance
				  date? You may avoid being cited for violations of the 0.15 milligrams per liter
				  hexavalent chromium concentration limit for up to six months after the
				  compliance date. In order to not be cited during the transition period, you
				  must:
comply with all other requirements of this
					 regulation,
and
notify the district in writing that your cooling tower has
					 wooden components that are exposed to the circulating water, and that you plan
					 to take advantage of this section,
and
test the circulating water to determine the concentration
					 of hexavalent chromium monthly
and
show a decrease in hexavalent chromium concentrations in
					 the circulating water each month,
and
keep the results of the tests of circulating water for two
					 years and give them to the district when asked,
and
the hexavalent chromium concentration in the circulating
					 water must not exceed 8 milligrams hexavalent chromium per liter of circulating
					 water.
(i) I am planning to
				  build a cooling tower after the effective date of this regulation. Do I need to
				  notify the district? Yes, no later than 90 days before you begin to operate the
				  cooling tower, you must write and tell the district the following:
who is the owner and operator of the cooling tower,
and
where the cooling tower will be located,
and
when you plan to start operation.
(j) I switched to non-chromate treatments
				  before this regulation became effective, do I have to meet the same
				  requirements? If you have not used hexavalent chromium in your cooling tower
				  for at least one year immediately before the compliance date, or if your
				  cooling tower has never used hexavalent chromium, and you can demonstrate this
				  to the district, then the district may waive the testing requirement. Such
				  demonstration may be made by written certification signed by a company officer,
				  that hexavalent chromium compounds have not been used within the year
				  immediately before the compliance date. The district may, however, require you
				  to test the circulating water at any time, if the district has information that
				  the circulating water may contain hexavalent chromium.
1. New
					 section filed 2-9-90; operative 3-11-90 (Register 90, No.
					 9).
Note: Authority cited: Section
						39600,
						39601,
						39650
						and
						39666,
						Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections
						39650
						and
						39666,
						Health and Safety Code.