EPA v. CHROMIUM - ACO

Case summary

This Administrative Compliance Order requires Chromium, Inc. (Chromium) to comply with the National Emission Standards for Chromium Emissions from Hard and Decorative Chromium Electroplating and Chromium Anodizing Tanks at 40 C.F.R. Part 63, Subpart N (Subpart N); and the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Area Source Standards for Plating and Polishing Operations at 40 C.F.R. Part 63, Subpart WWWWWW (Subpart 6W). Chromium owns and operates a plating facility where it conducts industrial hard-chromium electroplating. The facility has two hexavalent chromium tanks that are subject to Subpart N and a dry mechanical polisher that Chromium uses to polish chromium-plated parts and that is subject to Subpart 6W. On August 19, 2014, EPA issued to Chromium a Finding of Violation alleging that it failed to 1) operate and maintain its hard chromium-electroplating tanks and composite mesh-pad systems equipped on these tanks in a manner consistent with good air pollution control practices; 2) either conduct an initial performance test of its composite mesh-pad systems and monitor and record the established pressure drop across the systems or monitor and record the surface tension of the tank baths; and 3) submit the Initial Notification and Notification of Compliance Status and prepare annual certification of compliance reports for its dry mechanical polisher as required by Subpart 6W. EPA discovered these violations on an inspection it conducted of the facility on November 4, 2013 and through Chromium?s response to a February 26, 2014, information request. To come into compliance, Chromium will conduct performance tests to 1) measure chromium emitted to the atmosphere from the composite mesh-pad systems on its hard chromium-electroplating tanks to confirm compliance with the applicable emission limit in Subpart N; and 2) establish as a site-specific operating parameter the pressure drop across each system, setting the value that corresponds to compliance with the emission limit. Shortly after the parties met to discuss the alleged violations, Chromium had submitted to EPA an Initial Notification and Notification of Compliance Status report and annual certifications of compliance reports for 2010-2013 in accordance with Subpart 6W for its dry mechanical polisher.

Defendants (1)

• CHROMIUMNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• CHROMIUM INC.

  1930 ROOSEVELT ROAD, RACINE, WI, 53406

  Registry ID: 110002038269

Statutes cited

• CAA 112 — Hazardous Air Pollutants

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• CHROMIUM - ACOentered 2015-03-27

  Primary law: CAA

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 2015-03-27Final Order Issued
• 2015-04-01Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2016-01-08Air Resolved