Regulations last checked for updates: May 01, 2025
Title 40 - Protection of Environment last revised: Nov 01, 2025
§ 421.280 - Applicability: Description of the secondary tantalum subcategory.
The provisions of this subpart are applicable to discharges resulting from the production of tantalum at secondary tantalum facilities.
§ 421.281 - Specialized definitions.
For the purpose of this subpart the general definitions, abbreviations, and methods of analysis set forth in 40 CFR part 401 shall apply to this subpart.
§ 421.282 - Effluent limitations guidelines representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best practicable control technology currently available.
Except as provided in 40 CFR 125.30 through 125.32, any existing point source subject to this subpart shall achieve the following effluent limitations representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best practicable technology currently available:
(a) Tantalum alloy leach and rinse.
BPT Limitations for the Secondary Tantalum Subcategory
| Pollutant or pollutant property
| Maximum for any 1 day
| Maximum for monthly average
|
|---|
| mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of tantalum powder produced
|
| Copper | 438.100 | 230.600
|
| Lead | 96.850 | 46.120
|
| Nickel | 442.800 | 292.900
|
| Zinc | 336.700 | 140.700
|
| Tantalum | 103.800 | |
| Total suspended solids | 9,455.000 | 4,497.000
|
| pH | (
1) | (
1)
|
(b) Capacitor leach and rinse.
BPT Limitations for the Secondary Tantalum Subcategory
| Pollutant or pollutant property
| Maximum for any 1 day
| Maximum for monthly average
|
|---|
| mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of tantalum powder produced from leaching
|
| Copper | 38.380 | 20.200
|
| Lead | 8.484 | 4.040
|
| Nickel | 38.780 | 25.650
|
| Zinc | 29.490 | 12.320
|
| Tantalum | 9.090 | |
| Total suspended solids | 828.200 | 393.900
|
| pH | (
1) | (
1)
|
(c) Tantalum sludge leach and rinse.
BPT Limitations for the Secondary Tantalum Subcategory
| Pollutant or pollutant property
| Maximum for any 1 day
| Maximum for monthly average
|
|---|
| mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of equivalent pure tantalum powder produced
|
| Copper | 390.100 | 205.300
|
| Lead | 86.230 | 41.060
|
| Nickel | 394.200 | 260.700
|
| Zinc | 299.700 | 125.200
|
| Tantalum | 92.390 | |
| Total suspended solids | 8,417.000 | 4,003.000
|
| pH | (
1) | (
1)
|
(d) Tantalum powder acid wash and rinse.
BPT Limitations for the Secondary Tantalum Subcategory
| Pollutant or pollutant property
| Maximum for any 1 day
| Maximum for monthly average
|
|---|
| mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of tantalum powder produced
|
| Copper | 0.665 | 0.350
|
| Lead | 0.147 | 0.070
|
| Nickel | 0.672 | 0.445
|
| Zinc | 0.511 | 0.214
|
| Tantalum | 0.158 | |
| Total suspended solids | 14.350 | 6.825
|
| pH | (
1) | (
1)
|
(e) Leaching wet air pollution control.
BPT Limitations for the Secondary Tantalum Subcategory
| Pollutant or pollutant property
| Maximum for any 1 day
| Maximum for monthly average
|
|---|
| mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of equivalent pure tantalum powder produced
|
| Copper | 9.272 | 4.880
|
| Lead | 2.050 | 0.976
|
| Nickel | 9.370 | 6.198
|
| Zinc | 7.125 | 2.977
|
| Tantalum | 2.196 | |
| Total suspended solids | 200.100 | 95.160
|
| pH | (
1) | (
1)
|
§ 421.283 - Effluent limitations guidelines representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best available technology economically achievable.
Except as provided in 40 CFR 125.30 through 125.32, any existing point source subject to this subpart shall achieve the following effluent limitations representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best available technology economically achievable:
(a) Tantalum alloy leach and rinse.
BAT Limitations for the Secondary Tantalum Subcategory
| Pollutant or pollutant property
| Maximum for any 1 day
| Maximum for monthly average
|
|---|
| mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of tantalum powder produced
|
| Copper | 295.200 | 140.700
|
| Lead | 64.570 | 29.980
|
| Nickel | 126.800 | 85.320
|
| Zinc | 235.200 | 96.850
|
| Tantalum | 103.800 | |
(b) Capacitor leach and rinse.
BAT Limitations for the Secondary Tantalum Subcategory
| Pollutant or pollutant property
| Maximum for any 1 day
| Maximum for monthly average
|
|---|
| mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of tantalum powder produced from leaching
|
| Copper | 25.860 | 12.320
|
| Lead | 5.656 | 2.626
|
| Nickel | 11.110 | 7.474
|
| Zinc | 20.600 | 8.484
|
| Tantalum | 9.090 | |
(c) Tantalum sludge leach and rinse.
BAT Limitations for the Secondary Tantalum Subcategory
| Pollutant or pollutant property
| Maximum for any 1 day
| Maximum for monthly average
|
|---|
| mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of equivalent pure tantalum powder produced
|
| Copper | 262.800 | 125.200
|
| Lead | 57.480 | 26.690
|
| Nickel | 112.900 | 75.960
|
| Zinc | 209.400 | 86.230
|
| Tantalum | 92.390 | |
(d) Tantalum powder acid wash and rinse.
BAT Limitations for the Secondary Tantalum Subcategory
| Pollutant or pollutant property
| Maximum for any 1 day
| Maximum for monthly average
|
|---|
| mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of tantalum powder produced
|
| Copper | 0.448 | 0.214
|
| Lead | 0.098 | 0.046
|
| Nickel | 0.193 | 0.130
|
| Zinc | 0.357 | 0.147
|
| Tantalum | 0.158 | |
(e) Leaching wet air pollution control.
BAT Limitations for the Secondary Tantalum Subcategory
| Pollutant or pollutant property
| Maximum for any 1 day
| Maximum for monthly average
|
|---|
| mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of equivalent pure tantalum powder produced
|
| Copper | 6.246 | 2.977
|
| Lead | 1.366 | 0.634
|
| Nickel | 2.684 | 1.806
|
| Zinc | 4.978 | 2.050
|
| Tantalum | 2.196 | |
§ 421.284 - Standards of performance for new sources.
Any new source subject to this subpart shall achieve the following new source performance standards:
(a) Tantalum alloy leach and rinse.
NSPS for the Secondary Tantalum Subcategory
| Pollutant or pollutant property
| Maximum for any 1 day
| Maximum for monthly average
|
|---|
| mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of tantalum powder produced
|
| Copper | 295.200 | 140.700
|
| Lead | 64.570 | 29.980
|
| Nickel | 126.800 | 85.320
|
| Zinc | 235.200 | 96.850
|
| Tantalum | 103.800 | |
| Total suspended solids | 3,459.000 | 2,767.000
|
| pH | (
1) | (
1)
|
(b) Capacitor leach and rinse.
NSPS for the Secondary Tantalum Subcategory
| Pollutant or pollutant property
| Maximum for any 1 day
| Maximum for monthly average
|
|---|
| mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of tantalum powder produced from leaching
|
| Copper | 25.860 | 12.320
|
| Lead | 5.656 | 2.626
|
| Nickel | 11.110 | 7.474
|
| Zinc | 20.600 | 8.484
|
| Tantalum | 9.090 | |
| Total suspended solids | 303.000 | 242.400
|
| pH | (
1) | (
1)
|
(c) Tantalum sludge leach and rinse.
NSPS for the Secondary Tantalum Subcategory
| Pollutant or pollutant property
| Maximum for any 1 day
| Maximum for monthly average
|
|---|
| mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of equivalent pure tantalum powder produced
|
| Copper | 262.800 | 125.200
|
| Lead | 57.480 | 26.690
|
| Nickel | 112.900 | 75.960
|
| Zinc | 209.400 | 86.230
|
| Tantalum | 92.390 | |
| Total suspended solids | 3,080.000 | 2,464.000
|
| pH | (
1) | (
1)
|
(d) Tantalum powder acid wash and rinse.
NSPS for the Secondary Tantalum Subcategory
| Pollutant or pollutant property
| Maximum for any 1 day
| Maximum for monthly average
|
|---|
| mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of tantalum powder produced
|
| Copper | 0.448 | 0.214
|
| Lead | 0.098 | 0.046
|
| Nickel | 0.193 | 0.130
|
| Zinc | 0.357 | 0.147
|
| Tantalum | 0.158 | |
| Total suspended solids | 5.250 | 4.200
|
| pH | (
1) | (
1)
|
(e) Leaching wet air pollution control.
NSPS for the Secondary Tantalum Subcategory
| Pollutant or pollutant property
| Maximum for any 1 day
| Maximum for monthly average
|
|---|
| mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of equivalent pure tantalum powder produced
|
| Copper | 6.246 | 2.977
|
| Lead | 1.366 | 0.634
|
| Nickel | 2.684 | 1.806
|
| Zinc | 4.978 | 2.050
|
| Tantalum | 2.196 | |
| Total suspended solids | 73.200 | 58.560
|
| pH | (
1) | (
1)
|
§ 421.285 - [Reserved]
§ 421.286 - Pretreatment standards for new sources.
Except as provided in 40 CFR 403.7, any new source subject to this subpart which introduces pollutants into a publicly owned treatment works must comply with 40 CFR part 403 and achieve the following pretreatment standards for new sources. The mass of wastewater pollutants in secondary tantalum process wastewater introduced into a POTW shall not exceed the following values:
(a) Tantalum alloy leach and rinse.
PSNS for the Secondary Tantalum Subcategory
| Pollutant or pollutant property
| Maximum for any 1 day
| Maximum for monthly average
|
|---|
| mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of tantalum powder produced
|
| Copper | 295.200 | 140.700
|
| Lead | 64.570 | 29.980
|
| Nickel | 126.800 | 85.320
|
| Zinc | 235.200 | 96.850
|
| Tantalum | 103.800 | |
(b) Capacitor leach and rinse.
PSNS for the Secondary Tantalum Subcategory
| Pollutant or pollutant property
| Maximum for any 1 day
| Maximum for monthly average
|
|---|
| mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of tantalum powder produced from leaching
|
| Copper | 25.860 | 12.320
|
| Lead | 5.656 | 2.626
|
| Nickel | 11.110 | 7.474
|
| Zinc | 20.600 | 8.484
|
| Tantalum | 9.090 | |
(c) Tantalum sludge leach and rinse.
PSNS for the Secondary Tantalum Subcategory
| Pollutant or pollutant property
| Maximum for any 1 day
| Maximum for monthly average
|
|---|
| mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of equivalent pure tantalum powder produced
|
| Copper | 262.800 | 125.200
|
| Lead | 57.480 | 26.690
|
| Nickel | 112.900 | 75.960
|
| Zinc | 209.400 | 86.230
|
| Tantalum | 92.390 | |
(d) Tantalum powder acid wash and rinse.
PSNS for the Secondary Tantalum Subcategory
| Pollutant or pollutant property
| Maximum for any 1 day
| Maximum for monthly average
|
|---|
| mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of tantalum powder produced
|
| Copper | 0.448 | 0.214
|
| Lead | 0.098 | 0.046
|
| Nickel | 0.193 | 0.130
|
| Zinc | 0.357 | 0.147
|
| Tantalum | 0.158 | |
(e) Leaching wet air pollution control.
PSNS for the Secondary Tantalum Subcategory
| Pollutant or pollutant property
| Maximum for any 1 day
| Maximum for monthly average
|
|---|
| mg/kg (pounds per million pounds) of equivalent pure tantalum powder produced
|
| Copper | 6.246 | 2.977
|
| Lead | 1.366 | 0.634
|
| Nickel | 2.684 | 1.806
|
| Zinc | 4.978 | 2.050
|
| Tantalum | 2.196 | |
§ 421.287 - [Reserved]
authority: Secs. 301, 304 (b), (c), (e), and (g), 306 (b) and (c), 307 (b) and (c), 308 and 501 of the Clean Water Act (the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, as amended by the Clean Water Act of 1977) and the Water Quality Act of 1987 (the “Act”);
33 U.S.C. 1311,
1314,
c,
e,
and, 1316 (b) and
c, 1317 (b) and
c,
1318; 86 Stat. 816, Pub. L. 92-500; 91 Stat. 1567, Pub. L. 95-217; 101 Stat. 7, Pub. L. 100-4
source: 49 FR 8790, Mar. 8, 1984, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 40 CFR 421.286