California Air Resources Board

Important Dates and Actions 

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This document is intended for the owner or operator of any facility in California performing decorative chrome plating or functional chrome plating, which includes hard chrome plating and chromic acid anodizing. The purpose of this document is to provide information about the key requirements and incentive funding for the Airborne Toxic Control Measure (ATCM) for Chromium Electroplating and Chromic Acid Anodizing Operations (Chrome Plating ATCM).  The Chrome Plating ATCM was amended in 2023 and became effective on January 1, 2024. The final regulation order for the ATCM is available on the Chrome Plating ATCM webpage and on the CARB Rulemaking webpage. Note that this document does not include all requirements; therefore, facility owners or operators should refer to the final regulation order to ensure they are complying with all regulatory requirements.

The key dates and requirements of the Chrome Plating ATCM are listed below.

All chrome plating facilities

Starting January 1, 2024:

• No person shall construct or operate a new chrome plating facility that uses hexavalent chromium in California (applies to decorative and functional chrome plating facilities).
• Owners or operators of existing chrome plating facilities may modify their facilities after January 1, 2024, if they do not exceed permitted throughput levels in place as of January 1, 2024, and as long as any modified or additional hexavalent chromium tanks meet all applicable requirements.
• Owners or operators of chrome plating facilities that use hexavalent chromium shall implement the applicable housekeeping practices to minimize fugitive emissions.
• Once available, owners or operators must take the CARB Compliance Assistance Training Course, which is required every two years and fulfills the environmental compliance training required by section 93102.5(b) of the ATCM. CARB staff will notify the owners or operators when the course is available in early 2024.

Environmental compliance training conducted by the South Coast Air Quality Management District on Rule 1469 shall fulfill the requirements of section 93102.5(b).

Decorative chrome plating facilities

By July 1, 2024:

• Owners or operators of chrome plating facilities that use hexavalent chromium shall implement best management practices to minimize fugitive emissions.

By January 1, 2025:

• Owners or operators of decorative chrome plating facilities that choose to pursue the January 1, 2030, alternative phase out pathway shall notify their local air quality management district or air pollution control district (District) that they are choosing to pursue the January 1, 2030, phase out pathway.

By January 1, 2026:

• Owners or operators of decorative chrome plating facilities that choose to comply with the January 1, 2030, alternative phase out pathway must meet the building enclosure requirements for Tier I tanks, Tier II tanks, Tier III tanks, and buffing, grinding, and polishing operations specified in section 93102.4(d) of the ATCM. 

By January 1, 2027:

• Owners or operators of decorative chrome plating facilities that choose to comply with the January 1, 2027, phase out pathway, instead of the alternative phase out pathway, must stop using hexavalent chromium for the purpose of decorative chrome plating unless the District grants an extension (up to one year). By January 1, 2030:
• Owners or operators of decorative chrome plating facilities that choose to comply with the January 1, 2030 alternative phase out pathway must stop using hexavalent chromium for the purpose of decorative chrome plating unless the District grants an extension (up to one year).

Functional chrome plating facilities

By July 1, 2024:

• Owners or operators of functional chrome plating facilities shall control hexavalent chromium emissions from Tier II tank(s) by utilizing a tank cover, mechanical fume suppressant, or other method approved by the District. Alternatively, they can comply with the applicable emission limit using an add-on air pollution control device (see the final regulation order for the tank tier definitions).
• Owners or operators of functional chrome plating facilities shall cover the entire surface area of Tier III tank(s) until the add-on air pollution control device has been installed and meets the applicable emission limits as required by the Chrome Plating ATCM. Owners or operators of functional chrome plating facilities that use hexavalent chromium shall implement best management practices to minimize fugitive emissions.

By January 1, 2026:

• Owners or operators of functional chrome plating facilities must meet the following requirements:
  • Building enclosure requirements for Tier I tanks, Tier II tanks, Tier III tanks, and buffing, grinding, and polishing operations specified in section 93102.4(d) of the ATCM.
  • New emission limits for all Tier III tanks, including chrome plating tanks, that contain hexavalent chromium as measured downstream of any add-on air pollution control device.
    • Chrome plating tanks must meet an emission limit of 0.00075 mg/amp-hr of hexavalent chromium.
    • Tier III tanks that are not chrome plating tanks must meet the emission limitations specified in section 93102.4(f) of the ATCM.
  • Source Testing:
    • Initial Source Test: Conduct the initial source test for all Tier III tanks before January 1, 2026, to demonstrate compliance with hexavalent chromium emission limits.
    • Ongoing Source Tests: After the initial test, conduct source tests at least once every two calendar years to verify continued compliance.

By January 1, 2032

• CARB staff must complete the first technology review on alternatives to hexavalent chromium in functional chrome plating.

By January 1, 2036

• CARB staff must complete the second technology review on alternatives to hexavalent chromium for functional chrome plating.

By January 1, 2039

• Owners or operators may no longer use hexavalent chromium for the purpose of functional chrome plating.

Based on the results of the technology reviews, CARB staff may recommend amendments to the phase out dates for Board consideration.

Incentive funding for conversion

Two funding programs are available to support California’s transition away from hexavalent chromium in decorative and functional chrome plating facilities. These programs—Hexavalent Chrome Funding and Community Air Protection (CAP) Incentive Funding—help facilities convert to trivalent chromium plating or an equally health-protective alternative.

Hexavalent Chrome Funding

The 2023-2024 Budget Act allocated ten million dollars ($10,000,000) to CARB to assist with the necessary transition away from hexavalent chromium in chromium electroplating and chromic acid anodizing operations. At least 50 percent of this funding is designated for small businesses to convert to trivalent chromium plating technology or an alternative technology that is at least equally health protective. Placer County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) has been authorized to administer this funding program. Please visit the Placer County APCD website for detailed application instructions. Please note that the website may currently be under construction.

Community Air Protection (CAP) Incentive Funding

In 2017, AB 617 (Garcia, Stats. 2017, Ch. 136) established the Community Air Protection Program to address air quality in communities experiencing disproportionate cumulative burdens from air pollution. This program includes incentives to reduce emissions, such as those from hexavalent chromium operations. Please contact your local air district for CAP Incentive funding opportunities.