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News Release RI Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 (401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
DEM RECEIVES $200,075 GRANT FROM EPA FOR INNOVATIVE PROGRAM TO HELP AUTO SALVAGE YARDS VOLUNTARILY COMPLY WITH ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management has been awarded a $200,075 grant by the Environmental Protection Agency to help auto salvage yards voluntarily come into compliance with environmental regulations and reduce threats to human health and the environment.The grant, which was announced by EPA this morning at an environmental results program workshop in Portland, ME, is one of only 10 State Innovation Pilot Grants awarded nationally by EPA this year. Twenty-five states had competed for the grants. "I am so pleased that we are not only looking at ways of getting better environmental results for entire sectors, but we are also providing critical funding so that our state partners can get these creative ideas off the ground," said Robert W. Varney, EPA's regional administrator. Acting DEM Director Frederick Vincent said, "We are very pleased with EPA's initiative in providing funds for innovative environmental results programs, and we are sure that Rhode Island's program will provide great benefit to both the local auto salvage industry and the Rhode Island environment. Our auto salvage program is the latest of a series of initiatives we have undertaken to help businesses reduce and prevent pollution." In applying for the grant, DEM noted that human health and environmental risks associated with auto salvage operations are diverse and variable. They arise, according to the Department, from a broad array of physical, and biological hazards, such as: the potential for fire or explosion at improperly managed sites; soil, surface water and groundwater contamination from the improper management of solid and hazardous waste; air releases of asbestos fibers, fugitive dusts, and/or volatile organic compounds; and the transmission of West Nile Virus where yard areas serve as mosquito-breeding grounds. EPA estimates that there are about 40,000 people employed at 7,000 auto salvage facilities nationwide that receive more than 11 million vehicles each year. Rhode Island is home to 85 auto salvage yards. The facilities are licensed by the RI Department of Business Regulation and subject to various local laws. They are also subject to a number of state environmental regulations. For instance, regulated solid and hazardous wastes generated from auto salvage yards may include lead from batteries and cables, scrap tires, mercury switches, gasoline, used oil and antifreeze, and various other vehicle fluids. Until now, there has not been an overall program to help auto salvage yards come into, or stay in, compliance and to help them find the least costly ways to run their businesses without posing threats to human health and the environment. Under the grant, DEM's Office of Technical and Customer Assistance will take a non-regulatory approach, and, using an environmental performance program model, offer facility self-certification; provide on-site compliance, pollution prevention, and technical assistance; and measure improvements in selected environmental business practices. DEM's goal is 75 percent industry-wide participation with a 25 to 50 percent improvement in selected environmental indicators. By participating, auto salvage yard owners can take advantage of an opportunity to come into compliance with all applicable air, water, solid and hazardous waste requirements while at the same time receiving free on-site and telephone consultation compliance assistance. Participants will also benefit from guidance documents, such as a certification workbook, brochure, fact sheets, etc., and cost-saving pollution prevention technical assistance. Though facilities may incur some initial costs in terms of upgrades to come into compliance with existing regulations, long-term savings and efficiencies should be significant. The University of Rhode Island's Center for Pollution Prevention and Environmental Health is a primary partner with DEM in the project, and will be performing much of the work. DEM will design the program with input from the auto salvage industry, through a formal stakeholder process. Initial visits to auto salvage yards by program staff are expected to begin by March, if not sooner. -30- |
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