Metal Finishers: Compliance Resources
Understanding the state and federal regulations for metal finishers.
Air | Water | Waste | Tools | Additional Help
Air
- Industry-Specific Permits by Rule for Metal Finishers
- De Minimis–Determine if your site is covered under the De Minimis rule.
Water
- Permitting a Septic System You must check with your local permitting authority, and you can use a septic system for toilet and kitchen wastewater only. Process water is prohibited.
- If you are connected to a sewer system, contact your local Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) before discharging to their system.
- If you are not connected to a POTW, you may containerize your wastewater for disposal, apply for an industrial re-use authorization, or apply for an individual permit.
- Instructions and Application to Use Industrial Reclaimed Water
- Industrial Wastewater Discharges: The Permit Process
- Stormwater Permit Information
- Water: What Is My Source
Back to topWaste
- Waste Designation Decision Matrix
- Industrial and Hazardous Waste Rules and Regulations for Small-Quantity Generators (RG-234)
- Managing Paint and Paint-Related Waste Under the Universal Waste Rule (RG-370)
- Common Questions on Empty Waste Containers (RG-480)
- Managing Hazardous Waste as Universal Waste
Compliance Overview Tools
- A Guide to Developing an Environmental Management System for a Small Business (GI-304)
- Rule and Implementation Information for Chromium Electroplating
- Delinquent Fees
Through cooperation with the Texas Association of Metal Finishers (TAMF ), it has been shown that the following types of problems seem to affect the metal finishing industry more than others:
- improper storage and incorrect labeling of hazardous wastes
- hazardous material spills
- incorrect or insufficient notification of the types of materials used and stored
- unidentified containers
- unauthorized discharges onto property
- record keeping violations such as (among others) failure to submit a Toxics Release Inventory Report to the EPA and the TCEQ.
Small Business and Local Government Assistance
TCEQ's Small Business and Local Government Assistance section offers free, confidential help to small businesses and local governments working to follow state environmental regulations. Call us at 800-447-2827 or visit our webpage at TexasEnviroHelp.org.