DEQ - Solvent Degreasing

Solvent Degreasing

In December 1994, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) issued national regulations (National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants or NESHAP) to control toxic air pollutant emissions from solvent cleaning machines that use any of the following halogenated solvents: methylene chloride, perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, or any combination of these halogenated HAP solvents. This regulation is a pollution prevention regulation that reduces solvent usage by requiring the use of good housekeeping practices and efficient, well-controlled cleaning machines. Solvent cleaning machines are used to dry materials and remove soils, such as grease, wax, and oil from metal parts (such as nuts, bolts, and springs), circuit boards, sheet metal, assemblies, and other materials. The halogenated solvents listed above are known or suspected carcinogens, and have high usage and emissions in solvent cleaning. Therefore, the U.S. EPA has determined that emissions from cleaning machines using these solvents present a threat to human health or the environment. The U.S. EPA regulates the emissions of these machines in order to meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.

The Halogenated Solvent Degreasing NESHAP is enforced by each District Office of the Air Quality Division, Michigan Department of Natural Resource and Environment.

Technical Assistance Resources

How the Clean Air Act Affects Halogenated Solvent Cleaning Operations - On December 2, 1994 the U.S. EPA promulgated the National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Halogenated Degreasers. This fact sheet is a "plain English" version of the actual regulation. (November 1997)

Questions and Answers on the Halogenated Solvent NESHAP - Answers to commonly asked questions about the National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Halogenated Degreasers. (December 1997)

Notification Forms

Initial Notification Report For All Machines - Use this form to comply with the notification requirements of the National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Halogenated Degreasers. (May 2007)

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 .