DEM TO HOST KICKOFF MEETING FOR AUTO BODY REPAIR FACILITY CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

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Auto Body Certification Program

News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462

For Release:	November 21, 2002
Contact:	Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402 Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

DEM TO HOST KICKOFF MEETING FOR AUTO BODY REPAIR FACILITY CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
Public Invited to November 26^th Informational Session at Davies School in Lincoln

PROVIDENCE -- The Department of Environmental Management invites auto body shop owners, spray painters, technicians and other interested parties to attend a kickoff meeting on the state's new auto body self-certification program on Tuesday, November 26. Speakers will address environmental, health and safety requirements for auto body shops, review auto body shop compliance statistics, and discuss the benefits of participating in the voluntary program. A question and answer period will follow the presentations.

The self-certification program sets standards on training levels with respect to hazardous waste, air quality, occupational exposure, and pollution prevention techniques that will allow Rhode Island's 350+ licensed auto body shops to determine their compliance status. The program is administered by DEM's Office of Technical and Customer Assistance, in partnership with the Department of Health.

"This program is designed to give owners and operators of auto body shops the information and flexibility they need to do their jobs and improve accountability for environmental performance. We believe this approach holds great promise for making it easier to meet and surpass Rhode Island's environmental regulatory requirements and worker health and safety standards," said DEM Director Jan Reistma.

Although it does not replace existing state and federal regulatory requirements, the voluntary self-certification program can help operators of auto body shops bring their facilities into full compliance with environmental regulations, thereby reducing the risk of an enforcement action.

The auto body certification program stems from a 1999 agreement between DEM, URI's Center for Pollution Prevention and the William M. Davies Jr. Career and Technical High School, to help Rhode Island's auto body industry identify pollution prevention opportunities and address health and safety issues in their day-to-day operations. Through this partnership program, on-site training and off-site outreach activities are helping Rhode Island's auto body industry prevent pollution and run safer, more cost-effective shops. Training is also being provided on how to meet the self-certification program requirements.

The meeting will take place from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the Cafetorium at Davies Career and Technical High School, located at 50 Jenckes Hill Road in Lincoln. Registration is not required. For more information about the November 26^th meeting or the auto body certification program, call Richard Enander in DEM's office of Technical and Customer Assistance at 222-6822, ext. 4411.

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