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NEW ENGLAND CHAPTER HOSTS ANNUAL VIRTUAL MARCH SEMINAR

Date: March 23, 2024
Category: Events, Member News, NASF Chapters, NASF National, Regulation

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The New England Chapter of NASF was, once again, pleased to host a virtual Wastewater Continuing Education Webinar for the benefit of our membership and the entire metal finishing community. This event was offered via Zoom format, at no charge to NENASF members, over a two-hour period from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm on Wednesday March 20, 2024.

 

The program, comprised of three speakers, offered vital technical and regulatory compliance information to the metal finishing community. Attendees also qualified for two Continuing Education Wastewater Treatment Contact Hours to be used towards Wastewater license renewal.

 

Frank DeSilva of Resin Tech opened the Webinar with an update on the current status of the very hot button PFAS issue and regulatory efforts by the EPA. After giving us some very helpful facts, he then offered remediation techniques and technologies for successful PFAS removal from waste streams.

This presentation was followed by one from Mark Schario of Columbia Chemicals who enlightened attendees with a history of Trivalent Chrome plating baths and how they have greatly improved in appearance and durability over the last three or four decades. The substitution of Hex Chrome plating baths with trivalent baths is a very timely presentation given the TSCA chemical banning frenzy that is taking place across all chemical user and manufacturer sectors, especially in the metal finishing community.

The closing speaker was Dave Calnan of CCI-A Chemicals offering practical solutions and techniques for, and benefits of, oxidizing wastewater prior to reduction and precipitation.

 

Special thanks, once again, to Chris Capalbo, Dev Massimi and Ralph Capalbo as Program Moderators and Speaker Facilitators for their contributions, and to the combined efforts of NASF Board Members, Committee Members, Chapter Membership and dedicated and talented members of the Metal Finishing Community as a whole for making events such as this available for the benefit of our membership.  Over thirty members of the NENASF and metal finishing community were in attendance and benefited from this program.

Public Policy Report – March 2024

Date: March 23, 2024
Category: NASF National, Regulation

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March 2024

 

 

EPA PFAS Survey Closes: The Surface Finishing Industry Response

 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched the most recent stage of its PFAS rulemaking process with an extensive industry survey to over 2,000 facilities to inform one of two “first-of-its-kind” PFAS wastewater discharge rules for manufacturing. The survey included an sprawling set of information requests regarding facility operations and processes, use of PFAS, PFAS discharge data, water discharge permits, and financial information.

 

The NASF launched a series of webinars for members to guide the finishing industry on responding to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s PFAS survey. Accurate responses to the survey that are representative of the industry are critical because the information from the survey will help to shape the rule for PFAS wastewater discharges.

 

As of mid-March 2024, EPA had received approximately 950 responses to the survey and nearly 650 were from chromium finishing operations. Any company still working on the survey response should submit it to EPA as soon as possible. This high response rate to the survey from the industry will ensure that more accurate information is used in rulemaking deliberations.

 

EPA will now review the survey results and begin to develop the proposed PFAS wastewater discharge rule. Before issuing a proposed rule, EPA will also have to conduct a small business impact panel to solicit information on the potential economic consequences of the proposed rule on small businesses and to consider options for minimizing that impact. Officials have targeted December 2024 as the date for a proposed rule, but with the delay in sending out the survey and the required analytical steps ahead for the agency, the deadline for the proposed rule may be extended into 2025.

 

The association will continue to work closely with EPA officials on the development of this critical rule for the surface finishing industry. If members have questions or would like additional information on the survey or the PFAS rulemaking process, please contact Jeff Hannapel or Christian Richter with NASF at jhannapel@thepolicygroup.com or cichter@thepolicygroup.com.

 

Latest Action on Federal Climate Disclosure Rules for Industry: Securities and Exchange Commission Scales Back Requirements under Pressure

 

On March 6, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), responding to pressure from a wide range of industry and agriculture efforts, adopted narrower final rules to require publicly traded companies to disclose “any climate-related risks that have materially impacted or are reasonably likely to have a material impact on the registrant, including on its business strategy, results of operations, or financial conditions.” Specifically, the final rules require disclosure of more direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (referred to as Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions) on a phased-in basis by certain larger companies when those emissions are material.

 

In addition, climate-related disclosures must be incorporated into annual reports filed with the SEC. The final rules also include a phased-in compliance period for all companies (extending from FY 2025 to FY 2033), with the compliance date dependent on the company’s filer status and the content of the disclosure,

 

Changes from Proposed Rules

The final rules include significant changes from the proposed rule regarding GHG emissions disclosure requirements. In addition to the fact that the Scope 1 and Scope 2 disclosures are no longer mandatory for all companies, the amended rules no longer require companies to report certain indirect emissions, including from their supply chains and customers’ use of their products, such as coal or crude oil, or so-called Scope 3 emissions. Companies had opposed the requirement, saying they would be overly burdensome and complex.

 

Court Stays the Final Rules

Shortly after the SEC ruling, a coalition of 10 states filed a legal challenge, claiming that the rule was “illegal and unconstitutional.” In addition, an industry coalition led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce also filed a suit seeking to halt implementation of the SEC rules. Other individual companies also filed legal challenges to the final rules.

 

On March 15, 2024, a U.S. appeals court has temporarily halted new rules issued by the SEC.

In arguing for an administrative stay of the final rules, the companies argued that the climate rules “directly or indirectly regulates significant aspects of the country’s economy under the guise of requiring detailed (and wildly speculative) disclosures about ‘climate-related risks’ and ‘greenhouse gas’ emissions,”

 

Impact on Surface Finishing Operations

First, the climate disclosure rules apply only to publicly traded companies. Surface finishing operations would have been most directly impacted if customers subject to the rule needed information from them regarding GHG emissions in the supply chain. Given that the SEC removed the reporting of Scope 3 emissions from the final rules, such information will not be federally mandated from surface finishing operations. In addition, it appears that legal challenges to the SEC rules will delay any implementation of the climate disclosure requirements. However, even though there may be no specific regulatory requirements climate disclosure, many large companies may still request climate-related information from its supply chain (including surface finishing operations) as part of their corporate sustainability programs.

 

Accordingly, NASF will continue to monitor regulatory developments and climate disclosure trends and how it may impact the surface finishing industry. If you have any questions or would like additional information regarding the SEC climate disclosure rules or GHG reporting requests, please contact Jeff Hannapel or Christian Richter with NASF at jhannapel@thepolicygroup.com or crichter@thepolicygroup.com.

 

Michigan Advancing on PFAS in Wastewater and Stormwater Discharges

 

NASF recently participated with Michigan industry leaders at MiNASF chapter’s annual technical and industry event in Grand Rapids, and met with officials from Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to discuss a range of topics, including: EPA’s PFAS wastewater discharge rule, EGLE’s industrial pretreatment program for PFAS, and EGLE’s stormwater program for PFAS. Michigan agency officials noted that its effort to address PFOS in wastewater discharges to POTWs has been successful thus far, and it is now beginning to focus on addressing PFOS in stormwater.

 

Industrial Pretreatment Program

With regard to the industrial pretreatment program for discharges to POTWs, EGLE reported that it had identified 181 sources of PFOS and 55 of them were metal finishing facilities. Of those 181 sources of PFOS, 87 had installed PFOS pretreatment, and 32 of the 87 were metal finishing facilities. Based on the industrial pretreatment program, POTWs reported reduction of PFOS in its effluent by 84 to 99 percent (with most POTWs having reductions in excess of 95 percent). In December 2019, only 72 percent of POTWs meet the Michigan surface water quality value of 12 ppt for PFOS (including all of the POTWs that did not have any sources of PFOS). As of February 2024, 93 percent of POTWs are now meeting the 12 ppt surface water quality value.

 

Industrial Stormwater Discharges

With the success of the industrial pretreatment program in significantly reducing the amount of PFOS in effluent discharges, EGLE has also turned its attention to reducing PFOS in industrial stormwater discharges. Approximately two years ago, EGLE started identifying potential sources of PFOS in stormwater and then conducted investigations to characterize stormwater discharges. 45 facilities were investigated and 20 facilities were set for enforcement and corrective action (15 of those 20 facilities were metal finishing facilities). EGLE sent letters to the facilities targeted for corrective action to initiate enforcement through a general administrative consent order (GACO).

 

After a lengthy period of inactivity on this matter, EGLE is now expected to proceed with implementing corrective action with facilities by Summer 2024 through the use of a GACO. The GACO process would not include any up-front penalties and would allow facilities to identify and implement appropriate site-specific corrective actions.

 

The corrective action would target source removal instead of requiring the collection and treatment of stormwater. Corrective actions could include the following:

  • Clean contaminated surfaces, equipment, tanks and other ancillary pipes,
  • Reseal or replace roofs,
  • Resurface parking lots,
  • Replacement of line contaminated storm sewer pipes and down spouts, replace air handling equipment, and
  • Elimination of stormwater exposure to contaminated equipment or materials.

The GACO would also include stormwater effluent goals, and failure to meet these goals would trigger additional corrective actions, but not financial penalties. In addition, the GACO would include ongoing compliance monitoring and performance certification.

 

While EGLE’s GACO process provides flexibility, facilities will need to work with EGLE to identify and remove the source of PFOS in stormwater. As long as facilities continue to work with EGLE in implementing corrective actions to remove PFOS in stormwater discharges, the agency does not include to impose any penalties.

 

As NASF continues to work with EPA on the development of the PFAS wastewater discharge rule for the surface finishing industry, EGLE continues to address PFAS in wastewater and stormwater discharges and appears to be setting the standard for the surface finishing industry. If you have any questions, please contact Jeff Hannapel or Christian Richter with NASF at jhannapel@thepolicygroup.com or crichter@thepolicygroup.com.

 

EPA Racing to Complete Priority Rules Before Possible Congressional Review Act Deadline

 

EPA top officials have acknowledged that the agency is working to finalize a suite of major environmental regulations by the end of May 2024 to avoid a possible reversal of the regulations pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (CRA) should Republicans gain control of both chambers in the next Congress. The CRA applies to final rules, including major rules, nonmajor rules, interim final rules, and may even include guidance documents and policy memoranda. Typically, the CRA is most often applied to rules that were promulgated in the last six months of a previous Administration.

 

The CRA enables Congress to disapprove a final rule or policy issued by a federal agency. A rule or policy disapproved using this mechanism is not only nullified; the agency is also prevented from reissuing a “substantially similar” rule or policy in the future unless Congress authorizes it to do so via subsequent legislation.

 

As a result, EPA is accelerating its efforts to finalize several major air, water, waste, and chemicals management rules and policies in the next two months to avoid the potential risk that priority regulations could be rescinded by a new Congress after the November elections. Vicky Arroyo, head of EPA’s Policy Office indicated that this risk is “something that we’re very focused on,” and that the White House “is working very closely with [EPA] to ty to get our priority rules done as soon as possible because we are obviously . . . just aware of that risk.” NASF will continue to engage closely with EPA on its near-term regulatory agenda and provide updates to NASF members. If you have any questions or would like additional information regarding this issue, please contact Jeff Hannapel or Christian Richter with NASF at jhannapel@thepolicygroup.com or crichter@thepolicygroup.com.

 

NASF 1000

 

The NASF 1000 program was established to ensure that the surface finishing industry would ‎have resources to effectively address regulatory, legislative and legal actions impacting the ‎industry, NASF members and their workplaces. All funds from the NASF 1000 program are used ‎exclusively to support specific projects and initiatives that fall outside the association’s day-to-‎day public policy activities. The commitment to this program is one of the most vital ‎contributions made in support of surface finishing and directly shapes the future of the ‎industry. ‎

 

The sustained commitment from industry leaders has helped the NASF remain strong and ‎credible in informing regulatory decisions across the nation. Specific projects funded through ‎the NASF 1000 make a measurable difference in how the industry navigates emerging ‎challenges, communicates credibly with policy makers, and advocates for a strong science base ‎for rules or standards that affect surface finishing. ‎

 

Please consider supporting the NASF 1000 program. If you have any questions or would like ‎additional information regarding the NASF 1000 program or the broad array of NASF public ‎policy activities, please contact Jeff Hannapel with NASF at jhannapel@thepolicygroup.com.‎

 

NENASF Partners with HRP Associates

Date: March 9, 2024
Category: Chapter News, Events, Member News, NASF Chapters, Regulation

                                                        NENASF LOGO

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The NENASF is pleased to announce that we have partnered with HRP Associates.  HRP has for years organized and run our Annual HAZMAT, RCRA, and DOT TRAINING seminars and will once again be doing so on May 15th, 2024!  

Please visit their sight to see what they have to offer!

HRP Associates

EXAMPLES OF TRAININGS OFFERED

RCRA Hazardous Waste ManagementDOT Hazardous Materials Transportation / IATA (Air) / IMDG (Vessel)

EHS Management Systems / ISO 14001:2015 / OHSAS 18001:2007

OSHA Health and Safety

8-Hour HAZWOPER Refresher

Asbestos AwarenessProcess Safety Management

Brownfields Opportunities / Environmental Due Diligence

Environmental Compliance Overview

Spill (SPCC) and Stormwater (SWPPP)

Company specific EHS Training

UST A/B Operator Training

January 2024 NASF Policy Update

Date: January 23, 2024
Category: NASF National, Regulation

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  • NASF Action Ahead on Major EPA Regulatory Push in 2024 – Finishing industry ‎burdens could exceed over a billion in future costs and liabilities if certain rules are ‎finalized. NASF will be fully engaged with policy makers this election year.‎
  • NASF Government Affairs PFAS Webinars – The association’s Public Policy team on ‎January 15th provided guidance to members from across the nation on the new survey, ‎and more advice and assistance is available.‎
  • Pentagon Proposes Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Program Rule: NASF Review Underway A proposed rule published in the Federal Register on ‎December 26, 2023 establishes a revamped CMMC 2.0 program and defines ‎requirements for the program and for each CMMC level. ‎
  • EPA Issues More Stringent Guidance for Soil Cleanup Screening Levels: Potential Impacts Ahead for Certain Surface Finishing Operations – The new screening levels ‎could drive investigation and/or cleanup at hundreds of thousands of new parcels. ‎

Please see more details on these topics below:‎
NASF Action Ahead on Major EPA Regulatory Push in 2024
With a wide-ranging regulatory agenda set in December 2023 and funds still in the pipeline ‎from Biden initiatives passed by Congress, EPA this year will be rushing to meet deadlines to ‎complete far-reaching regulations and distribute billions of dollars by the end of 2024. The ‎agency is working to implement protections on air, climate, and water by late summer before ‎they may be in danger of reversal next year should Republicans win back full control of ‎Congress and the White House.‎
EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe noted the agency’s work is “hard, tiring, and ‎rewarding” in a widely-circulated note to EPA staff, and advised that “2024 is also going to be a ‎big year for our regulatory programs – from rules that address climate pollution, to those that ‎protect our precious rivers, lakes coastlines, and wetlands, to those that ensure the air we ‎breathe, the water we drink, and the land we rely upon is safe and healthy. I want each rule ‎writer, regulatory development team member, economist, scientist, biologist, and public health ‎officer to know that Administrator Regan and I have got your back as you make your way ‎through your work this year. We have an important job to do, and I am confident that together ‎we will deliver.”‎
The finishing industry could be subject to new regulatory burdens and future liability exceeding ‎a billion dollars if EPA finalized some of its most significant rulemakings, including:‎

  • the PFAS Superfund remediation listing regulation, ‎
  • the PFAS drinking water standard, ‎
  • several chemicals management rules, and
  • the wastewater discharge rule for metal finishing and electroplating.‎

NASF will continue working with EPA officials on these and other policy decisions and ‎providing members with critical updates in the coming year. If you have any questions or ‎would like more information, please contact Jeff Hannapel or Christian Richter with NASF at ‎jhannapel@thepolicygroup.com or crichter@thepolicygroup.com. ‎
NASF Government Affairs Webinars: Providing Guidance to Members on EPA’s Survey for the PFAS Wastewater Discharge Rule
Since late December, finishing facilities across the nation began receiving federal EPA’s ‎industry survey that will inform the agency’s surface finishing PFAS wastewater discharge rule. ‎The survey includes an extensive set of information requests regarding facility operations and ‎processes, facility uses of PFAS, PFAS discharge data, water discharge permits, and company ‎financial information. The submission of accurate responses to the survey that are ‎representative of the industry will be critical, as the information from the survey will help to ‎shape the rule to address – in some form – PFAS wastewater discharges from finishing.‎‎On January 15, NASF held a webinar for members to provide some guidance on responding to ‎the survey. The program prompted wide participation from association members across the ‎country. The guidance included, among other topics:‎

  • general considerations for the survey,‎
  • a brief summary of the “off ramps” for the survey, ‎
  • clarifications on the type of information that EPA is requesting and EPA’s rationale for ‎requesting it, ‎
  • the process for protecting some of the responses as confidential business information ‎‎(CBI), the survey submission deadline, and ‎
  • how to request an extension. ‎

In addition, The Policy Group answered questions from participants as part of the webinar and ‎in the days following. ‎The webinar is available on the NASF website in the members-only area.
NASF is planning some additional webinars on the survey and details regarding the upcoming ‎webinars will be provided soon. If you have any questions or would like additional information ‎on the survey, the new wastewater discharge rule for PFAS, or upcoming webinars on the ‎survey, please contact Jeff Hannapel or Christian Richter with NASF at ‎jhannapel@thepolicygroup.com or cichter@thepolicygroup.com.
Pentagon Proposes Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Program Rule: NASF Review Underway
The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Program is the Department of ‎Defense’s (DOD) process of ensuring that contractors are adequately protecting sensitive ‎information under DOD contracts. It requires DOD contractors to certify that they are ‎compliant with cybersecurity requirements for protecting sensitive information. DOD has been ‎making efforts to increase cybersecurity protections, including when it announced in November ‎‎2021 “CMMC 2.0” that established a program structure with three key factors: 1) tiered levels ‎of security, 2) assessment requirements, and 3) implementation through contracts.‎
A proposed rule published in the Federal Register on December 26, 2023 establishes a ‎revamped CMMC 2.0 program and defines requirements for the program and for each CMMC ‎level. Surface finishing operations conducting business with DOD and its contractors have been ‎in the process of implementing CMMC requirements at significant cost for some and will be ‎impacted by this rule. ‎
A copy of the proposed rule is available at the following link: ‎https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/12/26/2023-27280/cybersecurity-maturity-‎model-certification-cmmc-program. ‎
Tier LevelsThe proposed rule preserves the three tier levels that were introduced in CMMC 2.0.‎

  • CMMC Level 1 – includes 15 requirements listed in the Federal Acquisition Regulation ‎‎(FAR) and would apply to contractors who store, process, or transmit Federal Contract ‎Information (FCI).‎
  • CMMC Level 2 – includes 110 requirements from the National Institute of Standards ‎and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800-171, Rev. 2 and would apply ‎broadly to contractors who store, process, or transmit Controlled Unclassified ‎information (CUI).‎
  • CMMC Level 3 – includes 24 requirements from NIST SP 800-172 and full ‎implementation of NIST SP 800-171 and would apply to a small group of contractors ‎who store, process, or transmit high-value CUI.‎

AssessmentsThe proposed rule includes a mixture of self-assessments and third-party assessments depending ‎on the nature of the data.‎

  • CMMC Level 1 assessments will be self-assessments that require contractors to verify ‎their own compliance with the applicable security controls and submit their assessments ‎to DOD annually.‎
  • CMMC Level 2 assessments will be either self-assessments or a certification assessment ‎performed by a third-party assessment organization that must be completed every three ‎years. The proposed rule does not specify how DOD will determine which type of ‎assessment will be required.‎
  • CMMC Level 3 assessments will be certification assessments performed by the Defense ‎Industrial Base Cybersecurity Assessment Center every three years.‎

Certifications and Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M)An assessment may result in a Final Certification or a Conditional Certification, depending on ‎whether the contractor has implemented all of the required security controls. The proposed rule ‎allows for some flexibility with the limited use of a Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) ‎for certain requirements and for a limited time where some controls are not yet implemented. ‎
For example, POA&Ms are not permitted for Level 1 assessments but can be used for some ‎Level 2 and 3 assessments. If a POA&M exists after an assessment, the contractor will be ‎granted a Conditional Certification and have 180 days to fully implement all of the security ‎controls listed in the POA&M. Failure to implement the security controls in the POA&M will ‎result in penalties or loss of the DOD contract.‎
Implementation TimelineThe proposed rule includes a four-phase implementation plan.‎

  • Phase One – begins on the effective date of the final CMMC rule and includes a CMMC ‎Level 1 or CMMC Level 2 self-assessment as a condition for contract award.‎
  • Phase Two – begins six months after Phase One and includes CMMC Level 2 ‎certification assessments for contract awards.‎
  • Phase Three – begins one year after Phase Two and introduces CMMC Level 3 ‎certification assessments.‎
  • Phase Four – full implementation of CMMC requirements begins on October 1, 2026.‎

Comment Deadline and Preparing for the RuleComments on the proposed rule are due on February 26, 2024. NASF will continue to review ‎and evaluate the proposed rule and plans to submit comments. Because the final rule is not ‎expected to look dramatically different from the proposed rule, surface finishing operations ‎subject to these requirements should consider continuing their efforts toward full compliance ‎with the CMMC requirements. ‎
If you have any questions or would like more information regarding the CMMC proposed rule ‎or compliance efforts, please contact Jeff Hannapel or Christian Richter with NASF at ‎jhannapel@thepolicygroup.com or crichter@thepolicygroup.com. ‎

EPA Issues More Stringent Guidance for Soil Cleanup Screening Levels: Potential Impacts Ahead for Certain Surface Finishing Operations

EPA issued new guidance on recommended screening levels for cleaning up lead-contaminated ‎soil at federal Superfund cleanup sites and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) ‎corrective action facilities. Specifically, EPA lowered the screening level for lead in soil at ‎residential properties from 400 parts per million (ppm) to 200 ppm. ‎
For remedial actions, if there are other sources of lead exposure, such as lead in air and water, ‎EPA recommends screening level as 100 ppm. EPA notes that the guidance’s new thresholds ‎should apply to both existing and new sites. This action is expected to drive evaluation and ‎cleanup at a “significant number” of residential properties.‎
The new screening levels could drive investigation and/or cleanup at hundreds of thousands of ‎new parcels. EPA’s Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation estimate that ‎this could result in approximately 500,000 parcels (an order of magnitude estimate) needing ‎investigation and/or cleanup. ‎
New Screening Level to Drive More Stringent Cleanup Levels at More Sites
In the new guidance the agency emphasizes that screening levels are not cleanup levels, and are ‎used in the early stages of investigating a release to determine if the level of contamination is ‎high enough to warrant further investigation. Nonetheless, the new screening level will drive ‎substantially more stringent cleanup levels at significantly more sites. ‎
EPA requests that its own regional office work collaboratively with state, tribal, and public ‎health agencies to prioritize addressing sites, considering factors such as current levels of ‎exposure and communities with increased risk. Consistent with national policy, EPA will make ‎resource decisions for residential lead sites in a manner that balances resources across all ‎Superfund sites. Because many of the communities at highest risk are in urban areas, it could ‎have an impact on all industry sectors, including surface finishing operations.‎
NASF will continue to monitor this issue and its potential impacts on the surface finishing ‎industry. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Jeff ‎Hannapel or Christian Richter with NASF at jhannapel@thepolicygroup.com or ‎crichter@thepolicygroup.com. ‎

NASF 1000

The NASF 1000 program was established to ensure that the surface finishing industry would ‎have resources to effectively address regulatory, legislative and legal actions impacting the ‎industry, NASF members and their workplaces. All funds from the NASF 1000 program are used ‎exclusively to support specific projects and initiatives that fall outside the association’s day-to-‎day public policy activities. The commitment to this program is one of the most vital ‎contributions made in support of surface finishing and directly shapes the future of the ‎industry. ‎
The sustained commitment from industry leaders has helped the NASF remain strong and ‎credible in informing regulatory decisions across the nation. Specific projects funded through ‎the NASF 1000 make a measurable difference in how the industry navigates emerging ‎challenges, communicates credibly with policy makers, and advocates for a strong science base ‎for rules or standards that affect surface finishing. ‎
Please consider supporting the NASF 1000 program. If you have any questions or would like ‎additional information regarding the NASF 1000 program or the broad array of NASF public ‎policy activities, please contact Jeff Hannapel with NASF at jhannapel@thepolicygroup.com.‎

Membership Survey to all NASF Members

Date: November 28, 2023
Category: Uncategorized

As a reminder, NASF has issued a Membership Survey to all NASF members. We have extended the deadline to December 8th, 2023, to give everyone more time to fill it out. As chapter leaders, we please would like to encourage our members to fill the survey out. The survey allows an opportunity for members to be heard so the NASF Board of Directors can make informed decisions to improve the member experience.

Your leadership is greatly appreciated as we work together for the betterment of NASF.

2023 NASF Member Assessment Survey (office.com)

The 2023 New England Surface Finishing Regional in Newport, Rhode Island

Date: November 11, 2023
Category: Chapter News, Events, NASF Chapters, Regulation

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The New England Surface Finishing Regional took place this past November 3rd in Newport, Rhode Island. It was a huge success with a 120 people in attendance. There were speakers from all over the country that delivered educational and thoughtful presentations to all in attendance.

The New England Surface Finishing Regional is honored to have presented the 7th Annual Foundation Award to longtime supporter Alex Price of Luster-On Products. The award was created to recognize a metal finishing supplier that has demonstrated outstanding contributions, support, and dedication to the annual regional event.

The 2024 the New England Surface Finishing Regional will be held November 8th in Hyannis, Cape Cod Massachusetts.

Please continue to follow www.nensaf.org all year for news and events throughout the New England metal finishing industry.

 

NEW ENGLAND CHAPTER HOSTS ANNUAL VIRTUAL FALL SEMINAR

Date: October 4, 2023
Category: Chapter News, Events, Member News, NASF Chapters, NASF National, Regulation

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The New England Chapter of NASF hosted a virtual seminar for the benefit of their membership and the entire non-NENASF metal finishing community. The event was held on Wednesday September 13, 2023.  The event was presented free of charge to NENASF members, and at a modest fee for other interested parties, as an educational and bonding opportunity for the metal finishing community.

 

The Webinar was conducted by means of Zoom format and attracted about forty attendees. It was made up of three segments featuring three presenters over a two-hour period from 10:00am to 12:00 pm offering a user-friendly format for all attendees. In addition to offering vital regulatory and technical information the event also made available two Continuing Education Wastewater Treatment Operator Contact Hours needed for WWT Operator License renewal.

 

Ethan Ware of Williams Mullen Law Group opened the Webinar with a presentation on the upcoming EPA PSFAS Survey that will be sent out to nearly 2000 metal finishers this fall. He stressed that the demographics would not only include chrome platers but chromate conversion coaters as well. This is a very detailed Survey and asks many complex questions through eight sections over seventy-one pages. He covered the answering/data requirements both from a technical as well as a legal perspective. He very much stressed that the information gathered in this Survey will shape the future of Wastewater Discharge Permits for years to come.

This was followed by a presentation by Jeremy Riley of Omega Research giving a detailed description of how proper finishing specification required test sample preparation can make a difference in acceptable test results, while poorly prepared samples can fail causing ripple effects with customer job acceptance.

The webinar was concluded with a presentation by Tony Oriti on Zinc-Nickel and Zinc-Tin as an alternative to Cadmium Plating. Tony not only presented the latest technological advances in these two finishes as they try to replace a long-time exceptional performing and defense and aerospace specified finish, cadmium, but also gave the attendees a look at emerging technology in the form a triple alloy finish that is in the developmental stages.

 

Once again we want to give special thanks to Chris Capalbo for moderating, and to Dev Massimi and Ralph Capalbo as Program Speaker Facilitators for their contributions, and to the combined efforts of NASF Board Members, Committee Members, Chapter Membership and dedicated and talented members of the Metal Finishing Community as a whole for making events such as this available for the benefit of our membership.

NASF News

Date: July 17, 2023
Category: Chapter News, NASF National

National Association for Surface Finishing
Get the news, trends, and deadlines you need to know to stay current with the National Association for Surface Finishing and our industry.

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Important Dates

 

  • Environmental Stewardship Part 1 Course Registration Deadline: July 25
  • Environmental Stewardship Part 1: Wastewater Treatment Course: August 8-30, T&Ws
  • Airline & Aerospace Finishing Parts 1 & 2 Registration Deadline: August 22
  • Airline & Aerospace Finishing Parts 1 & 2 Course: September 5-October 27, T&Ws
  • Washington Forum: October 30-November 1
 

SUR/FIN 2023 by the Numbers

 

Thank you to all of the attendees, exhibitors, and sponsors that made SUR/FIN 2023 a success!

  • 2102 Registrants
  • 180 Exhibiting Companies
  • 72 Technical Sessions
  • 4 Networking Opportunities including a Welcome Reception, Industry Night brought to you by OAMF, Women’s Reception, and Closing Reception Honoring Young Professionals
  • 3 Keynote Presentations from Sharon Miller – NASA Glenn Research Center, Jeff Szotek – Sr. Technical Specialist, Stellantis, and Tim Hall, PhD. – Research Director, Faraday Technology, Inc.‎
  • 2 Bootcamp Sessions

We look forward to seeing you in Atlanta, Georgia, June 5-7 for SUR/FIN 2024! Exhibitors, be sure to reserve your booth for 2024 as the show floor is already over 70% filled.

 

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2023 Industry Awards

 

Awards of Merit– This award is given to individuals that demonstrate outstanding service on a local and/or ‎national level. The recipients have worked tirelessly and have selflessly devoted themselves to the industry.

  • Recipients:
    • Peter Tremmel, Accu-Labs, Inc.
    • Tom Laken, Finishing Plating Services

Taormina Award– This award is one of the NASF’s most prestigious. It is awarded to an individual who has ‎performed outstanding service to the finishing industry.‎

  • Recipient:
    • Patrick Hayden, Unimetal Surface Finishing, Inc.

 

Hannapel & Richter - Presidential
Award Pat Hayden - Taormina Award Tim Hall - Scientific Achievement Award
 

Award of Scientific Achievement– This award recognizes a person who has contributed to the advancement of the theory ‎and practice of electroplating, metal finishing, and the allied arts; raised the quality of ‎processes and products; enhanced the dignity and status of the profession; or has been ‎involved in a combination of these efforts.‎

  • Recipient
    • Tim Hall, PhD., Faraday Technology, Inc.

August P. Munning Award– This award is given to a supplier member who, in the opinion of their peers, has significantly contributed ‎to the future well-being of the Association and exemplifies the traits of August P. ‎Munning—including a great interest, hard work, dedication, and selfless devotion to the metal ‎finishing industry.‎

  • Recipient
    • George Gilbert, Gilbert & Jones, Inc.

Presidental Award– This award focuses on the extraordinary service put forth by NASF members who are actively participating on the national level, going above and beyond the capacity of most.

  • Recipients:
    • Christian Richter, The Policy Group
    • Jeff Hannapel, The Policy Group

 

 

Upcoming In-Person Courses

 

 

Web-based Course

Dates: August 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30

Registration Deadline: July 25, 2023

 

Member Rate: $1,050

Non-Member Rate: $1,400

 

 

 

Web-based Course

Dates: September 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 30, 26, 27, October 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 26, 27

Registration Deadline: August 22, 2023

 

Member Rate: $1,400

Non-Member Rate: $1,800

 

 
 

NASF Webinar: Summer Government &

Industry Affairs Update

 

NASF follows federal, state, and international regulatory developments closely on behalf of its members and will hold its summer webinar on July 18, 2023 at 2:00 PM, to review the most important emerging regulations for the finishing industry and how they impact your company.

 

Please join Christian Richter and Jeff Hannapel of the Policy Group for this members-only webinar.

 

 
 

AESF Foundation Bookstore

 

The AESF Foundation is excited to announce that our  is now open! All proceeds from the bookstore go to the foundation which funds our courses, research, scholarships, and more.

 

Check out  edited by Jean-Claude Puippe and Frank Leaman, which is now available in eBook and paperback as well as  by Professor Per Møller, Ph.D. and Lars Pleth Nielsen, now available in hardcover.

 

 

NASF Membership

 

Don’t forget– NASF member fees are past due! If you have not paid your member dues yet, please log in to your account . If it is your first time logging into the new system, please see the help page .

 

Contact  if you run into any issues or have any questions.

 

Interested in becoming a member? Check out our  and apply today!

 

 

Washington Forum 2023

 

Mark your calendars for  from October 30 through November 1 at The Ritz Carlton, Pentagon City. The Forum includes presentations and briefings from national and global experts on pertinent policy, technical, regulatory, and management issues impacting the surface finishing industry, including environmental regulatory issues, labor and workplace trends, tax policy, economic outlooks, supply chain challenges, globally regulatory developments, and political and election outlooks.

 

Recent speakers at the Forum have included Jake Sherman- Founder, Punchbowl News, Jeff Weiss- Partner, Steptoe & Johnson, LLP, Marc Freedman- Vice President of Employment Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Michael Chipley- Cyber Security & Information Systems Information Analysis Center.

 

Registration will open in August!

 

 

NASF 1000

 

The NASF 1000 program was established to ensure that the surface finishing industry would ‎have resources to effectively address regulatory, legislative, and legal actions impacting the ‎industry, NASF members and their workplaces. All funds from the NASF 1000 program are used ‎exclusively to support specific projects and initiatives that fall outside the association’s day-to-‎day public policy activities. The sustained commitment from industry leaders has helped the NASF remain strong and ‎credible in informing regulatory decisions across the nation.

 

Please consider supporting the NASF 1000 program. If you have any questions or would like ‎additional information regarding the NASF 1000 program or the broad array of NASF public ‎policy activities, please contact info@nasf.org.

 

 

Chapter News

 

July

 – July 12

Manakiki Golf Course, Willoughby Hills

35501 Eddy Rd

Willoughby, OH 44094

 

August

– August 4, 12:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Majestic Oaks Golf Club

701 Bunker Lake Boulevard

Ham Lake, MN 55304

 

 – August 21, 1:00 PM Shotgun Start

Klein Creek Golf Club

1N333 Pleasant Hill Rd

Winfield, IL 60190

 

September

Detroit Auto Show Chapter Meeting – September 13-14

Industry Preview Days

 

October

MINASF Midwest Seminar – October 5-7

Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island

 

Make sure to get your event in front of this industry-specific network by alerting NASF of your upcoming chapter events. Fill out this survey !

 

MCTA Members Meeting &  Program

Date: June 5, 2023
Category: Events, Regulation

MCTA

Registration Open

Pre-Approved for 2.5 CE Credits

Season Opener – Do You Have Your [Regulatory] Bases Covered?

Speaker:

This & That: A Regulatory UpdateBrian Morrill, Associate Principal, GZA

Panel Discussion Speakers:

ModeratorAtty: Robert Cox Bowditch & Dewey

Speakers

Chris Rascher, EPA Region 1, TRI Compliance & Program  Coordinator

Stephen Klosz, MassDEP, Central Region Compliance Enforcement Analyst

When: June 15, 2023, 10 AM -12:30. Lunch to Follow

Where: DuPont Electronics and Industrial
New England Manufacturing and Technology Center
455 Forest Street, Marlborough, MA

Cost (Hybrid & In-Person): $50 Members, $100

Pre-registration required

To register for this event, please contact Katherine Robertson at katherine@masscta.org or 508-572-9113

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Reminder: MCTA’s PFAS Strategy Group Meets Thursday, June 1, 11 a

Date: May 31, 2023
Category: Events, Regulation

Contact us for Access Information

At some point in the near future, the Legislature is expected to hold hearings on House Bill 2197 and Senate Bill 1356, both entitled “An Act to protect public health from PFAS.”

There is enormous traction behind moving PFAS legislation in the 2023-2024 session. Of the many PFAS bills filed, we believe H2197/S1356 have the best chance of passage.

MCTA’s goal through the strategy sessions is to develop a roadmap highlighting the major issues of concern, alternative approaches, and the unintended consequences of the sweeping legislation on public safety, human health and the economy. It will guide us when crafting testimony, meeting with Public Health Committee members, and House and Senate Leadership

Our first Planning Session is June 1 at 11. If you haven’t already signed up, please email Katherine Robertson at katherine@masscta.org for access information.

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