Hemmings e-Weekly Volume 3 - Issue 28             12/20/2007 - By David Traver Adolphus

Sticker Stats

            New York State Governor Eliot Spitzer has signed legislation that requires automobile manufacturers to affix a “global warming index” sticker to new cars and passenger trucks beginning in the 2010 model year, detailing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. New York State apartment of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis applauded this legislation, saying the label will be a valuable tool for consumers, similar to mileage ratings for cars: “ This legislation will promote environmental consumerism by providing user-friendly information to enable buyers to take into consideration the impact a vehicle’s emissions have on air quality and climate change.” The requirement takes effect beginning with 2010 models and applies to passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks with a gross weight of 8,500 pounds or less. Each sticker will include an index that compares the emissions of global warming gases from the vehicle with the average projected emissions from all vehicles of the same model year; and identifies the vehicle model within its class with the lowest emissions of that model year. The index will be based on emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride. New York plans on modeling its standards on those set by California. By having parallel standards, automobile manufacturers won’t be required to develop different stickers for different states, and consumer groups should be able to provide uniform information to car buyers



The EPA wants to stop old-car restorations
Hemmings Classic Car - FEBRUARY 1, 2008 - BY RICHARD LENTINELLO
My column in HCC #38, "Alternative Painting Techniques," didn't seem to go over too well with one of our readers. Obviously a spineless, environmental-extremist wacko, this reader forwarded a copy of my column to the United States Environmental Protection Agency of New England, whereupon we received a pleasant letter from Susan Lancey of the Air Permit, Toxics and Indoor Programs Unit. Susan was kind enough to advise us of some pending legislation that will soon be signed into law, and sent us a copy of the new regulation.
Ms. Lancey's letter reads:
"I was recently forwarded a copy of an article titled "Alternative Painting Techniques" published in the November 2007 issue of Hemmings Classic Car magazine. I noted that the article did not mention environmental regulations that may apply to the painting discussed in the article. I am writing to inform you that on September 17, 2007, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed federal regulations in the Federal Register which, when finalized, will regulate surface coating of metal parts and plastic parts, including auto body refinishing. I have enclosed a copy of the proposed regulation and a fact sheet for your review.
"This regulation is scheduled to be finalized in December 2007, after consideration of public comment on the proposed rule. For surface coating operations, the proposed rule would require sources to implement equipment and management practices that minimize the amount of coating required and to capture toxic metal particulates from the process. The equipment practices include confining spray operations to within a properly filtered spray booth or preparation station, using high volume low pressure (HVLP) or equivalent spray equipment, and either cleaning spray guns manually or by using an enclosed spray gun washer. The management practices include proper training and certification of painters.
"When published in the Federal Register, the final rule will specify how it may apply to any person refinishing an automobile. At that time you may want to inform your readers of the new regulations. You should also be aware that states have environmental regulations that may also apply to these types of activities."
Susan was kind enough to include a Fact Sheet, which gave a brief outline of the impending regulations. Listed among the Action items, one bullet point read: "The proposed standards apply to area sources that engage in:

• paint stripping operations that use methylene chloride (MeCl)-containing paint
• surface coating operations that involve paints that contain metal HAP compounds
• autobody refinishing

But what's truly scary is the following bullet point:

• Area sources are those that have the potential to emit less than 10 tons per year of a single toxic air pollutant or less than 25 tons per year of any combination of toxic air pollutants. If sources emit more than these amounts, they are called 'major' sources.

I'm concerned with the use of the word "less" in the above bullet point. Although no home restorer will ever produce 10 tons per year of a toxic air pollutant, all of us will certainly produce less than that amount. And therein lies the issue. Basically, what this regulation is saying is that no one will be allowed to spray a toxic finish-i.e. auto body paint-outside of the confines of a properly filtered spray booth. In short, folks, we're screwed.
To find out more details, I called Susan about this regulation. I asked if the EPA took into consideration how much harm they will be doing to not only home restorers, but the entire collector-car hobby and associated industry, too, and was told that the EPA did take into consideration public comment on the regulation.
When I asked where the EPA obtained these public comments, Susan said they were gathered from their Web site. So, because this and other proposed federal regulations are only posted on the EPA Web site, and, let's face it, how many citizens know to go there, virtually no one knew about it to protest. Oh yeah, there was only a 30-day window in which to submit an objection to the regulation, and that window was slammed shut on us back in September. How nice.
And it's going to get worse. I just learned from another source that, by the year 2011, the EPA is looking into restricting the sale of auto body paints to only those who are certified to use the product. It's the EPA's way of reducing the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released into the atmosphere. Unless you are certified, and have a $100,000 filtered paint booth, you won't be able to buy the necessary paints to restore old cars, trucks or motorcycles.
All these regulations prove once again just how misguided the EPA folks really are, and how little consideration they have for us. The amount of VOCs that body shops and hobbyists emit into the air is probably less than 1/100th of 1 percent of the total amount produced each year. I bet Al Gore creates more pollution flying around in his private jet each day than 10,000 hobbyists create in a year of painting old cars. Restoring old cars is the ultimate form of recycling, yet the EPA wants to stop it. How smart is that?
Although it's too late to stop the anti-painting law, there's still time to do something to protect your freedom to buy auto body paint. Go to the EPA Web site, www.epa.gov, and voice your concerns now, before it's too late.

After incorporating several recommendations from SEMA, including an exemption for hobbyists who paint their own vehicles, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a final rule to regulate paint stripping, surface coating and auto body-refinishing operations. The new regulation targets hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) that the agency believes may cause cancer or other health disorders.
 
“As this proposal was deliberated over the last two years, there was significant concerns that the regulation would have a drastic impact on the ability of individual hobbyists to purchase and use these types of paint,” said SAN Director Jason Tolleson. “Through discussions with the EPA, SEMA was able to convince regulators that a rule could be produced that would develop ‘best practices’ for business operations while exempting hobbyists who infrequently paint their personal vehicles.”
 
As a result, the regulation does not apply to paint stripping and surface coating performed by individuals as part of a hobby or for maintenance of their personal vehicles—so long as those activities do not exceed two motor vehicles (or the equivalent in pieces) per year. Additionally, the rule does not apply to painting done with an airbrush or hand-held, non-refillable aerosol cans.
 
The EPA rule establishes best practices (spray booth, spray gun cleaning, etc.) for minimizing HAP emissions during commercial surface-coating operations. All shops are effectively required to have a filtered spray booth or prep station and use high-volume low-pressure (HVLP) or equivalent spray equipment. Spray guns are required to be cleaned manually or with an enclosed spray-gun washer. The EPA believes many shops have already implemented these best practices.
 
Under the new rule, owners and operators are required to provide training for their painters on how to properly spray surface coatings and clean equipment. The EPA has established minimum criteria required for in-house training, and painters would be required to complete refresher training and be re-certified every five years.
 
Existing operations have up to three years to purchase equipment and complete the initial training of employees. As recommended by SEMA, the EPA will rely on self-certification for training programs. Nevertheless, companies subject to the rule must send the EPA a one-time notification form stating that they are in compliance with the rule or will be within the allotted three years. Companies will have two years to submit the notification form, which will contain contact information and a brief description of the operation: number of spray booths, average number of employed painters, etc. Companies will be required to maintain in-house records verifying painter training/certification, filter replacement, a plan to control paint-stripping chemicals, etc.
 
For more information about the rule, contact Jason Tolleson at jasont@sema.org or by phone at 202/783-6007, ext. 39.
 
*New EPA Autobody Painting Regulation: *
 
·    Exempts hobbyists who paint two cars or less per year
·    Business operations are required to have a spray booth, proper filters and spray gun cleaners.
·    EPA now requires businesses to provide initial notification to the agency on their paint operations and requires training for all employees involved in painting activities.
·    Businesses must maintain in-house records verifying compliance, filter replacement and plans to control hazardous air pollutants within the facility.

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