Metal Products & Machinery
Background
EPA has proposed more stringent standards for wastewater discharges from metal finishers. The new standards are called Metal Products and Machinery (MP&M). They will not be finalized until December of 2002. The compliance date for existing facilities would be 2005.
The current proposal is for effluent limits that are much more stringent than the current electroplating and metal finishing standards. However, pollution prevention measures may be accepted as an alternative to the more stringent limits. The proposed pollution prevention measures include many of the ones addressed by the Cleaner Production Challenge.
Potential Industrial Impact
MP&M will replace the Electroplating (40 CFR 413) and Metal Finishing (40 CFR 433) limits for all facilities in the printed wiring board and metal finishing job shops category.
Facilities covered by existing metals effluent guidelines (other than 413 and 433) that discharge process wastewater not covered by that guideline but covered under MP&M, will need to comply with both regulations.
All new and existing indirect dischargers under the general metals subcategory that discharge less than 1 million gallons a year are excluded from MP&M coverage. However, they are still covered by 413 or 433 standards if applicable.
All new and existing indirect dischargers under the oily waste only subcategory that discharge less than 2 million gallons a year are excluded from MP&M coverage.
Some areas intended for coverage under MP&M include: facilities owned by federal, state, and local governments; drum reconditioners and refurbishers; and process wastewater discharges from maintaining or repairing aircraft and other related metal aircraft equipment.
Possible Pollution Prevention Alternative for Metal Finishing Job Shops
Category 1 - Must Use Practices that Reduce and/or Recover Drag-Out
Category 2 - Must Use Good Rinse System Design for Water Conservation
Category 3 - Must Use Water Flow Control for Water Conservation
Category 4 - Must Segregate Non-Process Water from Wastewater
Category 5 - Must Use Water Conservation Practices with Air Pollution Control Devices
Category 6 - Must Practice Good Housekeeping Practices
Category 7 - Minimize the Entry of Oil into Rinse Systems
Category 8 - Must Sweep or Vacuum Dry Production Areas Prior to Rinsing with Water
Category 9 - Must Reuse Drum/Shipping Container Rinsate Directly in Process Tanks
Category 10 - Must Implement Environmental Management and Record keeping System
Additional References
US EPA
American Electroplater and Surface Finishers Society
National Metal Finishing Resource Center
Printed Wiring Board Resource Center