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CARB ATCM for Chrome Plating

March 18, 2026

In 2023, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) adopted amendments to the Chromium Electroplating and Chromic Acid Anodizing Air Toxics Control Measure (ATCM) aimed at phasing out hexavalent chromium emissions from California’s chrome plating industry.  As a result, owners and operators of chrome plating, including hard chrome plating, decorative chrome plating, and chromic acid anodizing, will need to modify, transition, and ultimately curtail their use of hexavalent chromium.

As part of this transition, no new chrome plating facilities may be built in California after January 1, 2024. To support existing businesses, CARB and local agencies are offering incentive funding to help facilities shift to safer alternatives for both decorative and functional chrome plating. Additionally, facility owners and operators are now required to complete the CARB Compliance Assistance Training Course every two years to stay informed about regulatory requirements and proper operating practices.

As these regulatory changes take shape, chrome plating facilities across the state will need to navigate a series of phased deadlines, operational upgrades, and emissions‑control requirements. The path forward will look different for decorative and functional chrome operations, each with its own timelines, technical standards, and compliance milestones. The following sections outline these requirements in detail, providing facility owners and operators with a clear understanding of what to expect, how to prepare, and the steps needed to meet California’s new air‑toxics standards.

Decorative Chrome Plating

For Decorative Chrome Plating Facilities, CARB provides two pathways for compliance: 2027 Phase Out Pathway, or 2030 Phase Out Pathway. The following key dates outline the required steps for each option.

Key Dates

Tier I, II, III Tank Enclosure Requirements for Chrome Plating Facilities

In addition to the phased deadlines, decorative chrome operations must meet new enclosure standards designed to minimize emissions. These requirements include:

• Tier I, II, and III hexavalent chromium tanks shall only be operated within a building enclosure.
• All openings to building enclosures (e.g. doors) that are open to the outside and are on opposite ends of building enclosures shall be equipped with a Protected Opening Method and not simultaneously open except when vehicles, equipment, or people pass into the opening(s).
• Any openings to building enclosures that are directly facing and are located within 1,000 feet of residences, schools, daycare centers, or healthcare facilities shall be equipped with a Protected Opening Method and remain closed except when vehicles, equipment, or people pass through the openings.
• The total area of openings to a Building Enclosure cannot exceed 3.5% of the combined area of Building Enclosure’s floor, ceiling, and walls.

Functional Chrome Plating

Functional chrome plating facilities follow a separate set of requirements with their own compliance schedule. Key deadlines include:

Definitions

The following terms are used throughout the regulation and are important for interpreting the compliance requirements.

• Tier I tank – tank containing 1,000 ppm or greater of hexavalent chromium but doesn’t fall into the Tier II and Tier III categories.
• Tier II tank – tank operating at the applicable temperatures and containing hexavalent chromium concentrations listed in Table 1 below.
• Tier III tank – tank operating at the applicable temperatures and containing hexavalent chromium concentrations listed in Table 1 below, contains more than 1,000 ppm of hexavalent chromium and uses air sparging or is electrolytic, or is a chrome plating tank that contains hexavalent chromium.
• Add-on Air Pollution Control Device – Equipment installed in the ventilation system for Tier II, Tier III, and other chromium containing tanks. Examples include HEPA filters, composite mesh-pad systems, and packed bed scrubbers.
• Building Enclosure – Any permanent building or physical structure, or portion of a building, enclosed with a floor, walls, and a ceiling or roof that is enclosed.
• Protected Opening Method – Any method that restricts air from escaping a Building Enclosure where the hexavalent chromium tanks are held such as a door that automatically closes, an overlapping plastic strip curtains that cover the openings to the Building Enclosure, a vestibule, or airlock system.

Table 1—Table Distinguishing Tier II and Tier III Tanks

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Yorke Engineering has assisted over 2,000 industrial and government facilities across California with EH&S consulting and air quality consulting, as well as permitting and compliance for storm water, wastewater, hazardous waste, industrial hygiene, and safety programs. Learn more here: Services – Yorke Engineering, LLC

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