DEQ - Chromium Electroplaters

Chromium Electroplaters

In November 1994, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) issued national regulations (National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants or NESHAP) to control air emission of chromium from chromium electroplating and anodizing tanks. The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 directs the U.S. EPA to regulate emissions from a number of toxic chemicals, including chromium, from a wide range of industrial sources. Chromium electroplating and anodizing tanks are one of the largest sources of chromium emissions in the United States. The hexavalent form of chromium is highly toxic and a known human carcinogen, causing lung cancer; less is known about the cancer risk of the trivalent form of chromium, but it can accumulate in the lungs and may result in decreased lung function after continuous exposure.

Over 5,000 facilities perform chromium electroplating and/or anodizing in the United States. Many facilities are small job shops that are located near residential areas. Hard chromium electroplating operations deposit a thick layer of chromium directly on a base metal to provide wear and corrosion resistance, low friction, and hardness (for hydraulic cylinders, industrial rolls, etc.). Decorative chromium electroplating operations deposit a think layer of chromium on a base metal, plastic, or undercoating to provide a bright finish and wear and tarnish resistance (for bicycles, auto trim, tools, etc.). Chromium anodizing operations form a chromium oxide layer on aluminum to provide corrosion and wear resistance (for aircraft parts, architectural structures, etc.). Except for the trichrome decorative process, which uses the trivalent form of chromium, all other electroplating processes use the hexavalent form of chromium.

The Chromium Plating NESHAP is enforced by each District Office of the Air Quality Division, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

Technical Assistance Resources

The National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) Guide for Hard Chromium Electroplating- This easy-to-read fact sheet simplifies the NESHAP requirements for businesses with hard chromium electroplating and chromium anodizing tanks. The NESHAP was promulgated on January 25, 1995 and last amended on July 14, 2004 ..

The NESHAP Guide for Chromium Emissions from Decorative, Trivalent and Anodized Chromium Electroplating (February 2005). This easy-to-read fact sheet simplifies the NESHAP requirements for businesses with decorative, trivalent and anondized chromium electroplating. The NESHAP was promulgated on January 25, 1995 and last amended on July 14, 2004 .

Initial Notification Report (May 2007)

Recordkeeping and Reporting Forms

NESHAP for Chromium Emissions from Hard and Decorative Chromium Electroplating and Chromium Anodizing Tanks: Recordkeeping and Reporting Forms - Use this set of twelve forms to comply with the recordkeeping and reporting requirements of National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Chromium Emissions from Hard and Decorative Chromium Electroplating and Chromium Anodizing Tanks.

Recordkeeping and Reporting Form Use Guidance (March 2005)

Reporting Forms

Notification of Construction/Reconstruction	Word	PDF
Notification of Performance Test	Word	PDF
Performance Test Results	Word	PDF
Notification of Compliance Status	Word	PDF
Ongoing Compliance Status	Word	PDF

Recordkeeping Forms

Composite Mesh-Pad Systems or Combination Packed-Bed Scrubber/Composite Mesh-Pad Systems Operation and Maintenance	Word	PDF
Fiber-Bed Mist Eliminators Operation and Maintenance	Word	PDF
Packed-Bed Scrubbers Operation and Maintenance	Word	PDF
Monitoring Data	Word	PDF
Daily Process Operations	Word	PDF
Fume Suppressant - Stalagmometer	Excel	PDF
Fume Suppressant - Tensiometer	Excel	PDF

For More Information or Additional Assistance, contact the
Environmental Assistance Program at 800-662-9278

Do you have an outreach idea or suggestion for our Program? Please feel free to submit your requests to: David Fiedler.