The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Region 5’s office has initiated a voluntary air toxic reduction effort with regulated industry sectors in 6 states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Facilities covered by the Degreasing Organic Cleaners Halogenated Solvent Cleaners standard (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart T) may receive a letter from EPA Region 5 requesting their participation to help reduce or eliminate the use of the regulated solvents.
Halogenated solvents include:
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Methyl chloroform (TCA, 111- trichloroethane)
- Dichloromethane (DCM, methylene chloride)
- Perchloroethylene (PERC)
- Carbon Tetrachloride (CTC)
The National Association for Surface Finishing (NASF) and the surface finishing industry have made significant progress in reducing the use of halogenated solvents and air emissions from these solvents. Historically, these solvents have been used to clean parts prior to finishing, and halogenated solvents are still in use for applications where substitute solvents are not feasible. Where halogenated solvents continue to be used, facilities implement a variety of control technologies to minimize air emissions.
Even with the success in reducing emissions of halogenated solvents from the surface finishing industry, NASF is partnering with EPA to help members identify additional options for product substitution and improved control technologies to reduce or eliminate air emissions from halogenated solvents. Solvent substitution may allow the facility to reduce or eliminate permit or other compliance requirements under the federal standard, protect worker health and reduce costs. More information on alternative solvents can be found on EPA’s website.
More information on the regulatory benefits of safer solvents can be found here.
NASF and EPA will soon develop a webinar to provide more details on this initiative. For more information regarding the NASF/EPA partnership on this initiative, please contact Jeff Hannapel with NASF at [email protected].