RI Auto Body Repair Facilities Certification Program “Environmental and Occupational Health Compliance”

1. RI Auto Body Repair Facilities Certification Program“Environmental and Occupational Health Compliance” RI Department of Environmental Management Office of Technical & Customer Assistance

2. Certification/Environmental Results Program • Best applied in sectors where uniform enforcement is difficult to achieve: - Auto body industry - Auto salvage yard facilities - Exterior lead paint removal contractors - Underground storage tanks

3. Auto Body Industry • Fewer than 350 shops in Rhode Island (2006); 1,600 tons VOCs • Mostly small business: • Average of 5 employees; 60% of shops employ ≤ 4 people • Average of 5 vehicles per week • Under-regulated * National Estimates • ~60,000 facilities nationwide • $26 billion industry • >450,000 people • 286,000 tons of VOC’s

4. RI Auto Body Repair Facilities Certification Program • Participation in program is voluntary • First round of certification checklists submitted in 2003, second round submitted in 2006 • Shops self-certify to RIDEM/OTCA that they are complying with environmental and occupational health protection requirements • All auto body facilities operating in the State of Rhode Island must comply with the standards, whether or not they self-certify

5. RI Auto Body Repair Facilities Certification Program Incentives to participate: - Reduced inspection priority for participants - Opportunity to come into compliance without fear of enforcement action and gravity based penalties - RIDEM/URI/RIDOH technical & compliance assistance - Random regulatory inspections for non-participants

6. RI Auto Body Repair Facilities Certification Program Three Major Components: 1.Compliance Certification - clear standards, accountability, self-evaluation 2. Performance Measurement - statistically-based, inspections & enforcement 3. Technical/Compliance Assistance

7. RI Auto Body Repair Facilities Certification Program 1. Compliance Certification: Components: • Certification Workbook • Self-Certification Checklist

8. Auto Body Certification Workbook • Explains regulations (in plain language) • Designed to be used in conjunction with the accompanying self-certification checklist, and to be used as a reference in the facility

9. Auto Body Certification Workbook Major Contents: • Air Issues • Water Pollution Control • Hazardous Waste • Pollution Prevention • Worker Health and Safety • Sample Plans

10. Certification Checklist • The checklist contains a series of compliance questions, which generally require “yes” or “no” answers about whether or not the facility is following applicable environmental and occupational health and safety requirements

11. Certification Checklist • Checklist confirms compliance status • Self survey - used to determine where to make improvements • Required to submit checklist and RTCs to RIDEM/OTCA • Failure to submit by a designated date may result in inspection

12. Auto Body Industry - Certification Example of checklist questions:

13. 2. Performance Measurement • Statistics used to measure change • Baseline - 40 out of 400 shops randomly selected and visited; average compliance rates determined • After self-certification completed, another 40 shops randomly selected and audited or inspected for compliance status • “Before” and “After” comparisons made to determine program effectiveness

14. 3. Technical Assistance Participating shops may need assistance to comply with regulations (on-site, telephone, email) • URI and RIDEM/OTCA provide free consultation to help correct problems, such as: • Facility modification for wash water • Drum labeling and management • Companies still need to spend time and money, but costs can be minimized with technical assistance

15. Example of a “Return-to- Compliance Plan”(RTC)Submitted(Authorized Agents)

16. Example of a “Return-to- Compliance Plan”(RTC) Submitted(Employee Medical Exams)

17. 2003 Results • 367 RI DBR auto body shop licensees • 171 completed checklists returned • 15 businesses filed “Facility Non-Applicability Statement” • 51% response rate • 282 Return-to-Compliance Plans w/ checklists filed with RIDEM/OTCA

18. RI Auto Body Repair Facilities Certification Program

19. 2006 Results • 336 RI DBR auto body shop licensees • 140 completed checklists returned • 5 businesses filed “Facility Non-Applicability Statement” • 43% response rate • 94 Return-to-Compliance Plans w/ checklists filed with RIDEM/OTCA

20. RI Auto Body Repair Facilities Certification Program Other industry sectors being pursued: • Underground Storage Tanks • Auto Salvage Yard Facilities • Exterior Lead Paint Removal Contractors • Hospitality Green Certification

21. Contact Information RI Department of Environmental Management Office of Technical & Customer Assistance 235 Promenade Street Providence, RI 02908-5767 Tom Armstrong Telephone: (401) 222-4700, Ext. 4412 Email: thomas.armstrong@dem.ri.gov Fax: (401) 222-3810 RIDEM Auto Body Web Address: http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/benviron/assist/abdycert/abdycert.htm