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WELCOME TO THE SURFACE TECHNOLOGY
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE CENTER

The Surface Technology Environmental Resource Center (STERC) provides a wealth of useful environmental compliance information to the surface finishing and surface treatment industry.

This website was developed and is maintained by the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences, in partnership with the AESF Foundation and the National Association for Surface Finishing. Funding for this project has been provided by US EPA under the National Compliance Assistance Centers program and the AESF Foundation / National Association for Surface Finishing. For compliance assistance questions, or to pass along suggestions, please use Ask STERC. Our Compliance Assistance Team will respond as quickly as possible.

WHAT'S NEW

PFAS Resources. STERC launched this section to keep the industry appraised of policy and regulatory changes that are expected to impact the industry in 2024/2025. The resource includes information from EPA, NASF, DoD, and state agencies.

STERC Library. The STERC Library has numerous additions during 2023, including NASF technical articles. The Library now contains over 8,000 articles and papers. Access is free to NASF members. Annual subscriptions for non-NASF members are only $40.

Research Reports. Follow the progress of NASF/AESF Research Projects. This resource contains the results of 8 research projects.

  NEWS

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

(More information)

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

(More information)

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

(More information)

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

(More information)

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

(More information)

 

 

 


The information contained in this site is provided for your review and convenience. It is not intended to provide legal advice with respect to any federal, state, or local regulation.
You should consult with legal counsel and appropriate authorities before interpreting any regulations or undertaking any specific course of action.

Please note that many of the regulatory discussions on STERC refer to federal regulations. In many cases, states or local governments have promulgated relevant rules and standards
that are different and/or more stringent than the federal regulations. Therefore, to assure full compliance, you should investigate and comply with all applicable federal, state and local regulations.