The Automotive Service Association (ASA) is working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop a joint pollution prevention program for mechanical shops. This best environmental practices program will allow mechanical repairers to evaluate and possibly improve upon existing environmental practices in their repair facilities.

This program, initiated by the EPA's Region 9 office, is designed to provide “cost-effective strategies to improve environmental performance and worker safety.”

ASA will complete the standards for the program this year and kick off the program in Las Vegas during the November 2000 Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) show. Member facilities meeting the standards will be recognized publicly by ASA and the EPA during 2001.

ASA hosted the EPA at a previous CARS when the program was in the developmental stage. The EPA is assisting ASA in developing the pollution prevention program. EPA's current guidelines discuss environmental practices from a “profit through prevention” perspective.

The EPA highlights the following areas for pollution prevention:

Minimizing Your Waste Generation

1. How to minimize your waste generation now
2. Is your waste hazardous?
3. Waste stream regulatory guidance for traditional practices
4. Waste stream regulatory guidance for best practices

Aqueous Parts Cleaning

1. What's wrong with solvents?
2. What is an aqueous cleaner and how does it work?
3. Types of aqueous cleaning units
4. Maximizing aqueous solution life
5. Managing aqueous cleaning wastes

Aqueous Brake Washers

1. Which brake washing method is best for the environment?
2. How aqueous units work
3. Managing wastes

Antifreeze Recycling

1. Why recycle antifreeze?
2. Managing recycling wastes
3. Using recycled antifreeze

Refillable Spray Bottles

1. What's wrong with aerosol cans?
2. What to consider when selecting refillable spray bottles

Floor Cleanup

1. Why keep a shop dry?
2. The effects of flushing water down storm drains
3. Keeping your shop safe and clean

Oil and Water Separators

1. Why be concerned about oil/water separators?
2. How do I keep oil and solids out?

The EPA toolkit fact sheets contain an overview of each technique and technology, tips on making the best practices work on the shop floor, information on capital, operation and maintenance costs. EPA's toolkit also includes case studies from auto repair shops.

ASA salutes EPA's efforts to pursue a “best management practices” industry program versus regulatory efforts that involve only inspections and fines. This new approach will help educate repairers and develop a positive long-term solution to pollution concerns. OSHA has used a “trial” inspection program in years past that has been popular with some small businesses but this was not developed with industry groups and did not include a program certification process.

ASA will place the criteria for the new program on its Web site after CARS 2000. ASA members are encouraged to attend CARS and join in this ASA-EPA partnership effort to prevent pollution through best management practices. Those shops qualifying for the program will receive an official certificate from ASA at a joint EPA-ASA ceremony.

Bob Redding is the Automotive Service Association's Washington, D.C., representative. He is a member of several federal and state advisory committees involved in the automotive industry. For more information about the legislative activities of ASA, visit www.TakingTheHill.com.

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