New EPA Body Shop Regulations Set for January 2011

New EPA Body Shop Regulations Set for January 2011

The Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) rule governing hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) requires existing body shops to file an Initial Notification Form by January 11, 2010. Full compliance, due by January 11, 2011, requires that dealership body shops do the following:

1. Paint only inside filtered, ventilated paint booths or prep stations. 2. Use high transfer efficiency application equipment. 3. Clean guns with non-hazardous solvents, in gun-enclosed washers, or using a method that does not involve atomized spraying to the open air. 4. Have painters trained and certified every five years. 5. Keep basic records demonstrating compliance.

The rule also:

1. Allows a shop to petition for an exemption if it does not use spray coatings with any of the above-listed HAPs of concern.

2. Excludes the spraying of coatings from hand-held guns with paint cups of 3.0 fluid ounces or less.

Additionally, paint stripping involving methylene chloride (MeCl) is significantly regulated for shops using more than one ton of MeCl per year. Where possible, body shops should avoid the use of strippers containing MeCl.

For more information, please see the bulletin and forms found at: www.nada.org/bodyshop (login required). Questions on the new rule may be directed to Regulatory Affairs at: regulatoryaffairs@nada.org or 703-821-7040.