Compliance Assistance

About this sector

The fabricated metal products sector is comprised of facilities that generally perform two functions: forming metal shapes and performing metal finishing operations, including surface preparation. The main processes associated with this industry can be divided into three types of operations: metal fabrication, metal preparation, and metal finishing. The Department of Commerce formerly classified this industry under the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification code 34; the sector is now classified under the 1997 North American Industry Classification System as 332.

The non-ferrous metals sector is composed of establishments that engage in: the primary and secondary smelting and refining of ferrous and nonferrous metal from ore or scrap; rolling, drawing, and alloying; and the manufacturing and casting of basic metal products such as nails, spikes, wire, and cable. Primary smelting and refining produces metals directly from ores, while secondary refining and smelting produces metals from scrap and process waste. The Department of Commerce formerly classified this industry under the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification code 33; the sector is now classified under the 1997 North American Industry Classification System as 331.

The iron and steel sector is comprised of establishments primarily engaged in one or more of the following: (1) direct reduction of iron ore; (2) manufacturing pig iron in molten or solid form; (3) converting pig iron into steel; (4) making steel; (5) making steel and manufacturing shapes (e.g., bar, plate, rod, sheet, strip, wire); and (6) making steel and forming tube and pipe. The Department of Commerce formerly classified this industry under the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification code 33; the sector is now classified under the 1997 North American Industry Classification System as 331.

The metal casting sector is comprised of facilities that make parts from molten metal according to an end-user's specifications. Facilities are typically categorized as casting either ferrous or nonferrous products. The Department of Commerce formerly classified this industry under the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification code 33; the sector is now classified under the 1997 North American Industry Classification System as 331.

Additional Compliance Assistance information is provided based by statute (e.g. Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act) or through compliance incentives and auditing. Note that multiple statutes may apply to your entity. Information on EPA's compliance monitoring program also is organized by statutory programs. All regulated entities may be subject to EPA's statutory and civil enforcement program.

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Tools and information on how to comply

The following list of resources focuses on federal regulations and is not exhaustive. Additional resources may be available from other parts of EPA or from other federal, state or local agencies.

The National Metal Finishing Resource Center (NMFRC) provides searchable technical database, environmental compliance assistance tools, specifications used in metal finishing and on-line calculators designed for finishing needs.

The Profile of the Metal Fabricating Industry, the Profile of the Nonferrous Metals Industry, the Profile of the Iron and Steel Industry and the Profile of the Metal Casting Industry Sector Notebooks are plain language booklets that describe environmental problems associated with major U.S. industries. Information includes, but is not limited to, regulatory requirements, pollution prevention techniques, pollutant release data and innovative programs.

National Compliance Assistance Clearinghouse links to public and private compliance assistance materials. Users may post documents and interact with assistance providers, both within and outside of EPA. The Clearinghouse allows users to search for relevant material on new and existing regulations, pollution prevention opportunities, and voluntary programs that were created by other parts of EPA, other federal agencies, tribes, states and local agencies, industry and other organizations.

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