Compliance Assistance Information

On January 9, 2008, the US EPA promulgated 40 CFR Part 63, Subpart HHHHHH - National Emission Standards For Hazardous Air Pollutants for Paint Stripping and Miscellaneous Surface Coating Operations.  These standards are also called the Generally Achievable Control Technology (GACT) Standards for Paint Stripping and Miscellaneous Surface Coating Operations (hereafter referred to as "GACT Subpart 6H") and are applicable to area sources of hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions.  An area source of HAP emissions means any stationary source that emits or has the potential to emit 10 tons per year or less of any HAP or 25 tons per year or less of any combination of HAPs.  GACT Subpart 6H applies to any person who owns or operates at least one of the following processes at an area source of HAP:

• Paint stripping operations, where the paint stripper utilized contains methylene chloride (MeCl) to remove dried coatings from wood, metal, plastic, and other substrates. 
• Miscellaneous surface coating operations, where the coating contains compounds of chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), or cadmium (Cd) and is spray-applied to any part or product made of plastic and/or metal substrate that are not motor vehicles or mobile equipment.
• Motor vehicles and mobile equipment coating, where spray-application of coating is applied to automobiles, light and heavy-duty trucks, buses, construction equipments, self-propelled vehicles.
  
  Facilities subject to this rule are required to submit an initial notification, comply with standards and management practices, and submit a notification of compliance status.  MCAQ has provided compliance assistance outreach to sources identified as being potentially subject to the rule. 

 MCAQ Compliance Assistance Packet

 GACT Subpart 6H Letter to Existing Facilities
 GACT Subpart 6H Initial Notification Form

Applicable Regulations
GACT Subpart 6H found at 40 CFR 63.11169 – 63.11180

Mecklenburg County Air Pollution Control Ordinance

 Other Helpful Information

GACT Subpart 6H Petition of Exemption for businesses that paint motor vehicles or mobile equipment

EPA GACT Subpart 6H Brochure

 EPA Collision Repair Campaign

 EPA GACT 6H Training Video

 For questions related to GACT Subpart 6H, please contact MCAQ at 704-336-5430 and ask for a "GACT  6H Specialist."