New Paint Regulations Will Help Clean Air and Save Money For Auto Refinishers
23 December 1999
Pennsylvania DEP: New Paint Regulations Will Help Clean Air and Save Money For Auto Refinishers
HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 22 -- As part of Pennsylvania's ongoing
effort to reduce air pollution, the Department of Environmental Protection
(DEP) has adopted new clean-air regulations requiring new painting equipment
for the state's automobile refinishers, according to DEP Secretary James M.
Seif.
"By complying with these regulations, automobile refinishers will be doing
their fair share to reduce harmful air pollution that leads to ground-level
ozone, or smog," Seif said. "In the long run, they also can expect to save
thousands of dollars a year in labor and materials by making an initial
capital investment and complying with these new regulations."
DEP developed the new regulations with stakeholder groups in Pittsburgh
and Philadelphia as part of a larger strategy designed to protect
Pennsylvania's air quality. This year, stakeholder groups in Southcentral
Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley endorsed the regulations.
By Nov. 27, 2000, the estimated 4,000 auto refinishers statewide must
comply with the regulations, which include the following:
-- Switching from air-atomized spray-paint guns to high-volume
low-pressure (HVLP) guns or other equipment that applies the paint more
efficiently;
-- Cleaning the spray guns in some sort of enclosed system; and
-- Using paints that comply with federal standards for auto-refinishing
materials.
HVLP guns are more accurate than the traditional air-atomized guns, which
use more pressure and tend to spray the paint over a wider area.
Using less pressure, HVLP guns spray more paint on the item being painted.
This reduces emissions, and the refinisher uses less paint while applying it
more effectively. It reduces the amount of work and the amount of money spent
on paint.
In addition, the regulation calls for refinishers to clean their spray-
paint guns in an enclosed system, which can be as simple as a five-gallon
bucket with a lid. This will prevent the solvents from evaporating and
emitting volatile organic compounds, which lead to ground-level ozone, or
smog.
The regulations do not require permits for automobile refinishers or spray
booths.
"As businesses across the state have proven over and over again, they can
save a considerable amount of money by simply complying with regulations and
preventing pollution," Seif said.
DEP established the new regulations in cooperation with business owners in
the auto-refinishing industry and environmental groups. Industry
representatives have indicated that they will continue to provide support and
training for businesses that purchase the new equipment.
If refinishers cannot afford new HVLP guns or gun-cleaning equipment,
low-interest loans are available through the Small Business Pollution
Prevention Assistance Account.
Through this program, small-business owners can borrow up to $50,000, but
no more than 75 percent of the total cost, at an annual interest rate of
2 percent for projects that reduce waste or energy consumption.
The loan program is a joint venture between DEP and the Department of
Community and Economic Development (DCED). Applications are available by
calling 1-800-379-7448.
Ground-level ozone forms during the warm weather when pollution from
vehicles, industry, households and power plants "bakes" in the hot sun, making
it hard for people to breathe.
In 1996, Gov. Tom Ridge formed stakeholder groups in the Pittsburgh and
Philadelphia areas to develop a strategy to reduce air pollution. Since the
stakeholders issued their final reports in January 1997, DEP has worked to
develop regulations based on those recommendations.
For more information, visit DEP through the Pennsylvania homepage at
http://www.state.pa.us or directly at http://www.dep.state.pa.us (directLINK "auto
refinishing"), visit the ENVIROHELP website at http://www.pa-envirohelp.org, or call
ENVIROHELP at 800-772-4743.
CONTACT: Jeff McCloud of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection, 717-783-9722.