Date: October 13, 2021
Category: Chapter News, Member News, NASF Chapters, Regulation
NEW ENGLAND CHAPTER ANNUAL FALL SEMINAR 2021
The New England Chapter of NASF was grateful to once again be able to host an in-person Seminar for the benefit of its membership and the entire metal finishing community. The event was held on Wednesday October 6, 2021. With the COVID pandemic having forced the adoption of a Virtual format for the past year and a half, the resumption of in-person meetings and the opportunity to not only learn but to network with fellow metal finishers was a welcome change and was enthusiastically received by all in attendance.
The event was once again a four-hour Continuing Education Conference offering continuing education contact hours towards Wastewater license renewal. This was especially significant being that 2021 is a WWT License renewal year for all licensed operators in Massachusetts. The Seminar consisted of four presentations over a four-hour period from 1:00 to 5:00 preceded by a luncheon for all attendees and speakers.
Matt Wright from HRP Associates opened the Seminar with a presentation entitled PFAS What Businesses Need to know stressing the importance of due diligence in preparing for regulatory enforcement of this emerging environmental hot-button issue. He stressed that saying “there is no PFAS in our plant” won’t be enough and everyone should be ready to back up statements with facts. This was followed by a presentation from Jim Walsh of MacDermid-Enthone on another hot-button issue, Sustainability. Jim gave examples of how correct equipment choices can not only lead to a company’s financial success but also to its future environmental success. David Calnan of CCI Chemicals followed with a presentation on Wastewater Treatment Options for the metal finishing industry stressing alternative treatment techniques and water recycling. The seminar closing speaker was Katherine Robertson of the Massachusetts Chemistry & Technology Alliance (MCTA) who gave an eye-opening update on the year-long Ad Hoc Toxic Use Reduction Act (TURA) Committee Hearings on reform to this burdensome Massachusetts environmental regulation and what metal finishers will be facing if certain regulatory changes become effective.
We continue to live in a very different world and it is encouraging that once again we were able to assemble for an in-person conference and networking that this event offered. We must continue to offer, through the combined efforts of NASF Board Members, Committee Members, Chapter Membership and dedicated and talented members of the Metal Finishing Community as a whole, events such as this which can be offered for the benefit of our membership.
Date: September 11, 2021
Category: Member News, NASF National, Regulation
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EPA to Set New Federal Wastewater Discharge Standards
for PFAS in Surface Finishing Operations
September 9, 2021
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released its Preliminary Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 15 (Preliminary Plan 15), announcing that it will commence a rulemaking process to set first-time ever wastewater discharges for PFAS from key industries.
The agency’s announcement was not unexpected, and its effort will focus on chromium plating and related processes in the surface finishing industry as well as certain chemical manufacturers and formulators of PFAS.
The announcement follows extensive discussions between NASF and senior EPA officials since the Trump administration released its PFAS Action Plan in 2019. The plan prioritized surface finishing and other industries for potential water regulation under the Clean Water Act’s effluent guidelines program.
Industries Impacted Under New PFAS Rulemaking Process
After concluding several studies that EPA launched in 2018, the agency has determined that revised effluent limitations guidelines (ELGs) and pretreatment standards are warranted for:
Organic Chemicals, Plastics and Synthetic Fibers (OCPSF) — EPA listed this category to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) discharges from facilities manufacturing PFAS (which includes chemical formulators in this source category). EPA identified six OCPSF facilities that currently manufacture PFAS in the US.
EPA also identified eight additional OCPSF facilities that use PFAS feedstocks to formulate other products. EPA has not developed a comprehensive list of all PFAS manufacturers and formulators in the U.S. and considers it probable that there are many more OCPSF facilities using PFAS that EPA has not yet identified.
Metal Finishing — The agency plans to revise the existing Metal Finishing Effluent Guidelines (40 CFR Part 433) to address PFAS discharges primarily from chromium electroplating facilities, based on the information collected through earlier studies.
NASF has been working closely with EPA officials on various aspects of PFAS use in the industry and will continue to do so through the next stages in the rulemaking development process. To inform the discussion with EPA and various state agencies, NASF has created a web-based PFAS Resource Center, which can be accessed here. Watch for new updates to the site soon.
The EPA Preliminary Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 15 is available here.
Launching the Rulemaking Process, Collecting Industry Data
EPA will initiate a multi-year rulemaking process of collecting data on existing PFAS discharges levels, identifying available treatment technologies for PFAS discharges, and conduct a formal assessment of technical and economic feasibility for available treatment technologies to determine what pretreatment standards may be appropriate.
EPA’s action to advance a rulemaking for the metal finishing category could allow the agency to proceed without an accelerated legislative mandated schedule prescribed by Congress. The House has passed language in the recent infrastructure bill targeting metal finishing and several other sectors for urgent action on PFAS, but the Senate’s measure did not include these provisions.
EPA has not yet announced a timetable for the rulemaking process, and has invited NASF to provide information and further input on the rulemaking development process.
Further Review of Other Industries
As part of Preliminary Plan 15, EPA also announced that it would be conducting further research and studies regarding discharges of PFAS to determine if a rulemaking is warranted for the other industry categories, including:
· landfills,
· pulp, paper, and paperboard facilities,
· textile and carpet manufacturers, and
· commercial airports.
NASF Meetings Ahead with EPA
NASF will be meeting again shortly with EPA officials and will provide NASF members with updates on the rulemaking process.
If you have any questions regarding EPA’s action, please reach NASF by contacting Christian Richter at crichter@thepolicygroup.com or Jeff Hannapel at jhannapel@thepolicygroup.com. |
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Date: July 12, 2021
Category: Chapter News, Member News, Regulation
Strategy Session To Fight TURA Fee Hike at 2 PM
Members Meeting/Regulatory Update Follows at 3 PM
Consider this a reminder that MCTA has scheduled two meetings on Tuesday, July 13, 2021.
2 PM: A strategy session to coordinate opposition to the proposed fee increase for TURA filers;
3 PM: Quarterly Members Meeting.
Agenda for Members Meeting
Welcome, Adam Diamond, Astro Chemical, MCTA Chair
Program Update, Katherine Robertson. Executive Director
trategy Session Recap, Katherine Robertson. Executive Director
Regulatory Update, Jamie Dunbar & Chris Niles, O’Neill and Associates
MCTA Strategy Session/Members Meeting
Tue, Jul 13, 2021 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM (EDT)
Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/961996493
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (872) 240-3412
Access Code: 961-996-493
New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/961996493
Date: April 15, 2021
Category: Member News, Obituaries
Rocco Alexander Mastrobattista, 86 years old, beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother, passed away peacefully in his sleep on April 11, 2021. The son of Domenic and Josephine Mastrobattista, Rocco was a lifelong resident of Farmington, Connecticut. He graduated from Farmington High School and attended Central Connecticut College. The quintessential, self-made man, Rocco started his career at Stanley Works in New Britain, Connecticut as a chemist, later working as a sales man for Federated Metals and Smelting. In 1979, Rocco purchased Bass Plating Company in Bloomfield, Connecticut, building the business into the pre-eminent electroplating facility in the northeast, setting the gold standard in the industry for quality, customer service and environmental responsibility.
The New England NASF would like to extend condolences to the family of Rocco Mastrobattista of Bass Plating Company. Bass Plating was a long time member of both the Connecticut Association of Metal Finishing and our New England National Association for Surface Finishing Chapters.
Date: March 8, 2021
Category: Chapter News, Events, Member News, NASF Chapters, Regulation
The New England Chapter of NASF once again hosted a virtual seminar for the benefit of their membership and the entire metal finishing community. The event was held on Tuesday March 2, 2021. With the COVID pandemic still forcing the elimination of in-person meetings the executive board is realizing the necessity to continue to have events that will not only educate but, to whatever extent possible, bond those associated with metal finishing community.
The event was once again a four-hour Continuing Education Conference offering continuing education contact hours towards Wastewater license renewal. It was conducted by means of a Zoom format and attracted about forty attendees. It consisted of four presentations in two segments from 9:00 to 11:00 and 1:00 to 3:00, offering a more user-friendly format for all attendees.
Levi McGuire from PAVCO opened the Webinar with a presentation on Zinc-Nickel plating, covering the advantages and drawbacks of alternative chemistries from both an application and wastewater treatment perspective. This was followed by an eye-opening presentation by Paul LaFlamme of Centrend on cyber security highlighting the upcoming very elaborate security requirements that will be necessary to conduct business primarily with, but not exclusive to, all government/defense agencies in the not too distant future.
The afternoon session featured presentations by a team comprised of Jeff Mosholder of Newpath LLC plus Alisa Werst and Roger Booth of HRP Associates.
This trio covered the mandatory RCRA training required of all personnel handling hazardous waste and also covered commonly made environmental record keeping and reporting errors that could result in regulatory inspection citations.
Special thank Rob Capalbo of NBC TV Springfield affiliate WWLP for acting as technical director, support and moderator as he once again helped to successfully bring this Virtual Seminar to reality.
We continue to live in a very different world and, until we can all once again assemble for in-person conferences and networking, must continue to offer, through the combined efforts of NASF Board Members, Committee Members, Chapter Membership and dedicated and talented members of the Metal Finishing Community as a whole, events such as this which can be offered for the benefit of our membership.
Date: March 2, 2021
Category: Chapter News, Member News, Regulation
Regulatory Meetings Crop Up Like Crocuses in the Sunlight
Besides PFAS, QACs, Nonos and Fee Increases, Administration Discusses Expansion of TURA
The Commonwealth has an odd way of welcoming spring….
CLICK HERE FOR THE LOW DOWN
Date: October 17, 2020
Category: Chapter News, Events, Member News, NASF Chapters, Regulation
The Inaugural Virtual Seminar of the New England Chapter of NASF was held on Wednesday October 14, 2020 for the benefit of their membership and the entire metal finishing community. With the elimination of in-person meetings brought about by the COVID pandemic the executive board realized the necessity to continue to have events that would not only educate but, to some extent, bond those associated with metal finishing.
The event, which was a four-hour Wastewater Treatment Update offering continuing education contact hours for Wastewater license renewal, was conducted by means of a Zoom format and attracted about forty attendees. It offered four presentations in two segments from 9:00 to 11:00 and 1:00 to 3:00.
The first presentation covered an overview, regulations and reporting requirements surrounding PFAS substances and was presented by Katherine Robertson, Executive Director of MCTA (Mass Chemistry & Technology Alliance), along, with a panel of experts on the subject. This was followed by a presentation by Remington Schieffer of Dynapower on electrical maintenance for wastewater treatment equipment efficiency and also featured a glimpse at research being conducted that could electrolytically remediate PFAS substances.
The afternoon session featured Robin Deal, senior wastewater specialist at Hubbard Hall, and a panel of experts, offering a presentation entitled “Don’t let Wastewater slow down your Metal Finishing Operation”. The webinar concluded with Fran DiGiovanni, lifelong technical finishing chemistry specialist and metal finishing consultant, who offered a presentation entitled “Training in the Metal Finishing Shop, What We Do Versus What We Need to Do”.
Special thanks to Katherine Robertson of MCTA for offering to act as Moderator for this event, and to Rob Capalbo of NBC TV Springfield affiliate WWLP who acted as technical director and support to successfully bring this Virtual Seminar to reality.
We are living in a very different world today and it is through the combined efforts of NASF Board Members, Committee Members, Chapter Membership and dedicated and talented members of the Metal Finishing Community as a whole that events such as this can be offered for the benefit of our membership.
Date: September 29, 2020
Category: Chapter News, Events, Member News, Regulation
NEW ENGLAND CHAPTER-NASF VIRTUAL SEMINAR
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 14, 2020
4 WASTEWATER CONTACT HOURS HAVE BEEN APPROVED!
YOUR NEW ENGLAND CHAPTER HAS ASSEMBLED A FIELD OF FOUR METAL FINISHING EXPERTS TO BRING YOU UP TO DATE ON EMERGING WASTEWATER ISSUES AND TECHNIQUES THROUGH THE USE OF VIRTUAL CONFERENCING
PRESENTERS:
Katherine Robertson – MCTA
Fran DiGiovanni – Technical Consultant
Remington Schieffer – Dynapower
Robin Deal- Hubbard-Hall
ON-LINE VIRTUAL SEMINAR
9:00 TO 11:00 am and 1:00 TO 3:00 pm
COST:
$50 / PERSON (NENASF MEMBERS)
$100 /PERSON (NON-MEMBERS)
REGISTRATION AND MORE INFORMATION
CAN BE FOUND UNDER OUR EVENTS SECTION
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