Envirominutes
Vickie McLean
Senior Air Investigator
Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality
Midland Region 7
Website: www.tceq.texas.gov
Did you know that
there are
environmental rules
for abrasive blast
cleaning and spray
painting?
The State of Texas has rules
for abrasive blast cleaning
and surface coating
operations. Failure to
adhere to these rules can
result in violations and
fines.
RULE §106.452 Dry Abrasive
Cleaning
Dry Abrasive Cleaning
includes all types of Abrasive
Blast Cleaning regardless of
the blast media used.
If you conduct completely
enclosed abrasive blast
cleaning with adequate
filtration, you can claim the
Permit by Rule and don’t
even have to register.
If you conduct outdoor blast cleaning:
There are limits to the amount
of blast media used per day,
per month and per year.
The blast cleaning must be done
at least 500 feet from any offsite receptor
RULE §106.433 Surface Coat
Facility
Spray Painting (Spray Coating)
Clean up all spills immediately.
When cleaning spray guns and
other equipment in a booth
keep exhaust fans running.
Don’t leave open containers
sitting around and make sure
to dispose of all waste
properly.
(TCEQ Waste Rules)
If you have a drying or curing
oven, there are specific
conditions which must be
met regarding fuel and types
of coatings.

There are limits for total
uncontrolled emissions from
the coating materials (as
applied) and cleanup
solvents.
What are “exempt” solvents?
An exempt solvent is a volatile
organic compound that does not
participate in a photochemical
reaction to form smog. EPA
considers its reactivity to be
negligible.
The most common exempt solvents
are acetone and methylene
chloride.
If emissions are less than
0.25 lb/hr of VOC and/or
exempt solvents, a facility is
exempt from the remaining
requirements of this section
Opacity of visible
emissions shall not exceed
5.0%.
If you are using a booth or
enclosed work area there are
requirements for air flow,
stack height, filter efficiency
and VOC emissions.
Coating operations that are
performed outdoors or for
indoor operations that do not
comply with the requirments,
the following applies:
No more than 6 lb/hr of VOC
emissions, averaged over any 5
hour period, and 500 pounds
per week shall be emitted.
If coatings contain more
than 0.1% by weight of some
metals, then total VOC
emissions shall be further
limited
Coatings are applied with
non-spray equipment (such
as brushes, rollers, dipping
or flow coating), the
additional restrictions in
this paragraph do not apply.
Coating operations shall be
conducted at least 50 feet from
the property line and at least
250 feet from any off site
receptor
Written site approval must be
received from the appropriate
regional office of the
commission or any local
program having jurisdiction.
Records must be maintained
for 24 months and be made
immediately available to the
TCEQ or any pollution
control agency with
jurisdiction.
Cannot create a nuisance
If the TCEQ receives a
complaint and determines
that you have created a
nuisance condition, a
violation will be issued.
If the TCEQ gets a complaint and
the investigation determines
that registration or a permit is
required and has not been
obtained, a violation will be
issued for operating without a
permit.
If you have additional questions
regarding these regulations, please
contact:
Thank you.