On Oct. 9, 2007, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule imposing restrictions under Section 5 of the Toxics Substances Control Act (TSCA) on the manufacture, import and use of 183 perfluoroalkyl sulfonate (PFAS) chemical compounds. 72 Fed. Reg. 57222. These PFAS compounds are used as fume suppressants for controlling emissions from several metal finishing operations such as chrome plating.

Exclusion Language: In response to comments and data submitted by the National Association for Surface Finishing (NASF) and numerous discussions with EPA staff, EPA provided exclusions for the continued use of PFAS fume suppressants in plating processes. The exclusion language is provided below:

(1) Use of the following 7 chemicals: CAS No. 3872–25–1; CAS No.67584–53–6; CAS No. 67584–62–7; CAS No.68259–07–4; CAS No. 68957–62–0; CAS No. 68958–60–1; or CAS No. 70225–16–0 as a component of an etchant, including a surfactant or fume suppressant, used in the plating process to produce electronic devices.

(2) Use of tetraethylammonium perfluorooctanesulfonate (CAS No.56773–42–3) as a fume/mist suppressant in metal finishing and plating baths. Examples of such metal finishing and plating baths include: hard chrome plating; decorative chromium plating; chromic acid anodizing; nickel, cadmium, or lead plating; metal plating on plastics; and alkaline zinc plating.

EPA’s exclusion for the use of PFAS compounds in metal finishing operations is consistent with similar actions taken by the European Union and Canada. These agencies have indicated that they will reconsider the exclusion in another five to 10 years based on the availability of effective alternative fume suppressants that do not contain PFAS compounds.

(For more information on this announcement, please visit the NASF website at www.nasf.org.)