| #Q001 | administrative | unknown | mandatory | Incorporation into Permits | wastewater | The Metal Finishing Effluent Guidelines are incorporated into NPDES permits for direct dischargers, and permits or other control mechanisms for indirect dischargers | Applies to direct and indirect dischargers | high |
| #Q002 | administrative | unknown | mandatory | Core Operations Coverage | wastewater | If a plant performs any of those six operations, then discharges from the 46 operations listed in 40 CFR 433.10(a) are covered by the Part 433 standards. | Applies if a plant performs electroplating, electroless plating, anodizing, coating, chemical etching and milling, or printed circuit board manufacture | high |
| #Q003 | administrative | unknown | mandatory | Electroplating Category Applicability | wastewater | Certain electroplating processes are covered by the Electroplating Category, 40 CFR Part 413, rather than Metal Finishing: "job shop" electroplaters (those which in a calendar year do not own more than 50 percent of the material undergoing metal finishing), and independent printed circuit board manufacturers, which are located at indirect discharger facilities, and that were in operation before July 15, 1983. | Applies to "job shop" electroplaters and independent printed circuit board manufacturers located at indirect discharger facilities in operation before July 15, 1983 | high |
| #Q004 | administrative | unknown | guidance | Alternative Category Regulation | wastewater | In addition to the job shop electroplaters, discharges from the 46 metal finishing operations may be more properly and effectively regulated by the following categories: Aluminum Forming (40 CFR Part 467) Battery Manufacturing (40 CFR Part 461) Coil Coating (40 CFR Part 465) Copper Forming (40 CFR Part 468) Electrical and Electronic Components (40 CFR Part 469) Iron and Steel Manufacturing (40 CFR Part 420) Metal Molding and Casting (Foundries) (40 CFR Part 464) Nonferrous Metals Forming and Metal Powders (40 CFR Part 471) Nonferrous Metals Manufacturing (40 CFR Part 421) Plastics Molding and Forming (40 CFR Part 463) Porcelain Enameling (40 CFR Part 466) | | medium |
| #Q005 | administrative | unknown | mandatory | NPDES Permit Incorporation | wastewater | The Textile Mills Effluent Guidelines are incorporated into NPDES permits. | Applies to direct discharger facilities. | high |
| #Q006 | administrative | unknown | guideline | Regulatory Coverage Definition | wastewater | For precise definitions of coverage, see the applicability sections in 40 CFR Part 410. | Applies when determining the scope of the Textile Mills category coverage. | high |
| #Q007 | administrative | unknown | mandatory | NPDES Permit and Control Mechanism Incorporation | wastewater | The Effluent Guidelines and Standards are incorporated into NPDES permits for direct dischargersdirect dischargersA point source that discharges pollutants to waters of the United States, such as streams, lakes, or oceans., and permits or other control mechanisms for indirect dischargersindirect dischargersA facility that discharges pollutants to a publicly owned treatment works (municipal sewage treatment plant). | Applies to direct and indirect dischargers in the Timber Products Processing industry | high |
| #Q008 | prohibition | treatment | mandatory | Subcategory Zero Discharge Mandate | wastewater | Portions of 15 subcategories are subject to zero discharge requirements. | Applies to specific portions of 15 identified subcategories under 40 CFR Part 429 | high |
| #Q009 | administrative | unknown | guideline | Regulatory Coverage Definition Reference | wastewater | For precise definitions of coverage, see the applicability sections in 40 CFR Part 429Exit EPA’s website. | | high |
| #Q010 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Process Wastewater Definition Modification | wastewater | Modification to definition of "process wastewater" | Per Final Rule July 30, 2004, 69 FR 45943 | high |