SCAQMD Toxic Metals Initiative Update

In 2013, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) received several metallic odor complaints from citizens in Paramount, California. Since then, SCAQMD has launched large scale investigations into facilities and ambient concentrations of toxic metals and adopted or proposed significant changes to the rules governing the control of emissions of toxics metals. The following SCAQMD Rules have been revised or are currently in the revision process:

• 1407: Control of Emissions of Arsenic, Cadmium, and Nickel from Non-Ferrous Metal Melting Operations
• 1420: Emissions Standards for Lead
• 1420.1: Emission Standards for Lead and Other Toxic Air Contaminants from large Lead-Acid Battery Recycling Facilities
• 1420.2: Emission Standards for Lead from Metal Melting Facilities
• 1430: Control of Emissions from Metal Grinding Operations at Metal Forging Facilities
• 1469: Hexavalent Chromium Emissions from Chromium Electroplating and Chromic Acid Anodizing Operations

The revised rules have common requirements including improved housekeeping and best management practices, total enclosure of operations with the potential to generate fugitive emissions of toxic metals, periodic source testing of point sources, and in some cases, ambient fence line monitoring. These rules affect over 250 facilities within SCAQMD’s jurisdiction, and the compliance with the requirements will require extensive planning, capital investment, and ongoing cost and manpower.

Affected facilities should monitor the rule making process and begin developing plans for compliance with the revised rules. SCAQMD has held multiple working group meetings, public workshops, and public hearings for each of the rules. Rulemaking meetings scheduled for the near future are listed below.

• Paramount Investigation Conference Call; November 28th, 2017; (866) 244-8528 passcode: 4063768
• Rule 1469 Working Group Meeting #8; November 29th, 2017; Compton, CA

For support with air quality issues, contact Chris Waller toll free at (800) 777-0605 and email us at info@altaenviron.com.