P2 Research and Implementation for Michigan Metal Finishers or PRIM. A project conducted by the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) and National Association for Surface Finishing (NASF). Users can access several project products, including capsule reports and an on-line rinsing manual. The Rinsing Manual is designed to help metal finishing facilities improve their rinsing processes. The manual is a step-by-step guide with plain language, graphics and video. A section of the manual contains a new method for calculating potential savings in dragout that would be expected if the rack drain time over the plating tank were extended by a few seconds.

Technical Articles. The articles focus on technical, scientific, regulatory, and practical issues for the finishing industry. All STERC users have free access to this feature.

PFAS Resource Center. The National Association for Surface Finishing has launched a new on-line resource. The site includes background information on the use of PFAS in the surface finishing industry and extensive technical resources.

NASF Public Policy Update July 2023

The NASF continues to be active over the winter on major regulatory and legislative issues at the federal and state level that specifically impact member companies. Several new developments should be of interest to the industry and are listed below.

• OSHA Issues Final Electronic Reporting Rule
• New Scientific Review Finds Insufficient Data to Draw Accurate Conclusions about the Association of PFAS with Any Specific Disease
• Biden Administration's Semi-Annual Regulatory Agenda: More New Rules Pending
• Critical Environmental Justice Lawsuit:  Louisiana v. EPA

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NASF Public Policy Update June 2023

The NASF continues to be active over the winter on major regulatory and legislative issues at the federal and state level that specifically impact member companies. Several new developments should be of interest to the industry and are listed below.

• NASF Briefs SUR/FIN Conference Attendees with EPA Officials in Cleveland on EPA's ‎Pending PFAS Wastewater Discharge Survey and Proposed Rule 
• EPA Clarifies Narrower Scope for the Metal Finishing PFAS Rule During NASF SUR/FIN
• California Proposes a Restrictive New Drinking Water Standard for Hexavalent ‎Chromium
• U.S. Supreme Court Narrows the Definition of Waters of the U.S. under Clean Water Act

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NASF Public Policy Update May 2023

The NASF continues to be active over the winter on major regulatory and legislative issues at the federal and state level that specifically impact member companies. Several new developments should be of interest to the industry and are listed below.

• NASF Communicating with White House on EPA's Revised Survey for PFAS Wastewater ‎Discharge Rule
• Senate Legislation Introduced to Exempt Certain Entities from Liability for PFAS ‎Contamination under Superfund
• California Environmental Advocacy Group Files Novel Prop 65 Legal Action Against ‎Surface Finishing Facilities for PFAS Discharges
• Minneapolis Plans to Ban New Heavy Industry in Impacted Neighborhoods
• EPA Proposes New GHG Emissions Standards for Power Plants

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NASF Public Policy Update April 2023

The NASF continues to be active over the winter on major regulatory and legislative issues at the federal and state level that specifically impact member companies. Several new developments should be of interest to the industry and are listed below.

• Nationwide Metal Finishing PFAS Survey is Revised by EPA, Sent Today for Review at ‎White House
• EPA Considering Adding Seven Additional PFAS as CERCLA Hazardous Substances
• IRS Issues Guidance on Superfund Tax
• EPA Announces Stringent New Vehicle Emissions Standards
• Department of Energy Phases Out Incandescent Lightbulbs
• Nationwide Metal Finishing PFAS Survey is Revised by EPA, Sent Today for Review at ‎White House
• Updated Questionnaire is Shortened, but Will Now be Sent to Larger Universe of Finishing ‎Facilities
• EPA Considering Adding Seven Additional PFAS as CERCLA Hazardous Substances

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NASF Public Policy Update March 2023

The NASF continues to be active over the winter on major regulatory and legislative issues at the federal and state level that specifically impact member companies. Several new developments should be of interest to the industry and are listed below.

• EPA to Present at NASF SUR/FIN Expo and Conference on Metal Finishing Rule – June 6-8 in ‎Cleveland
• EPA Proposes Historic Drinking Water Standards for Key PFAS Chemicals
• EPA's Science Advisory Panel to Hold Second Meeting to Review the Agency's New Health ‎Assessment for Hexavalent Chromium
• EPA Budget Increase Requested to Support Agenda for Environmental Protections
• New Superfund Excise Tax Rule Is Ready for Proposal

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NASF PFAS Resource Center is now live on the NASF website

The National Association for Surface Finishing has launched a PFAS Resource Center. The site includes background information on the use of PFAS in the surface finishing industry and extensive technical resources.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemicals that includes PFOA and PFOS, the latter of which was previously used in chrome plating fume suppressants. These chemicals are very persistent in the environment and in the human body and they can accumulate over time. There is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse human health effects.

Although PFOS use in the surface finishing industry represented less than one half of one percent of U.S. and global PFOS use, NASF has taken a very active role in addressing the PFAS issues. NASF proactively approached EPA and began a process that led to the industry itself requesting a national, industry-wide ban from EPA on the use of PFOS in chromium plating operations, which was finalized under a new federal Clean Air Act rule in 2012.

Visit the NASF PFAS Resource Center for historical information on PFAS use in the surface finishing industry, safer chemical substitutions, NASF actions and priorities, and extensive additional resources. All questions regarding the NASF and the surface plating industry's environmental stewardship efforts to address PFOS in wastewater discharges should be directed to Christian Richter at crichter@thepolicygroup.com or Jeff Hannapel at jhannapel@thepolicygroup.com.