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Environmental Management Assistance Program
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Automotive Industry Resources

Autobody and collision repair shops are often small businesses that must contend with environmental issues. These operations often generate air emissions through touch-up or surface coating operations, are often a source of hazardous and residual waste, and are usually considered a point of industrial stormwater generation.

Featured Resources

Pennsylvania DEP Air Permit Exemption List

This the Air Quality Permit Exemptions document by Pennsylvania DEP provides criteria for sources and physical changes to sources determined to be eligible for air quality permitting exemptions as sources of minor significance.

Air Quality 6H

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Area Sources under 40 CFR Part 63 Subpart HHHHHH (6H) applies to operations involving paint stripping and miscellaneous surface coating operations. The 6H rule applies to any of the following activities:
  • Paint stripping using paint stripper containing methylene chloride
  • Spary applications of coatings to metal or plastic substrates with coatings containing compounds of chromium, lead, maganese, nickel, or cadmium.
To help reduce air toxics and protect employee health, EPA created a Collision Repair Campaign and even produced a free 19-minute training video starring NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon to inform small shop owners about the paint stripping rule, worker protection, and best practices. For Pennsylvania small businesses in the automotive industry sector, be sure to check out EMAP’s information on Air Permitting and Surface Coating Operations.

Waste Management

Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
Automotive operations often generate muncipal, residual, and hazardous wastes from automotive fluids handling, the recycling or salvaging of auto parts, and vehicle crushing operations. In Pennsylvania, small automotive operations should review DEP’s fact sheet on “Proper Management of Wastes from Automotive Recycling Operations” to better understand how to properly manage wastes onsite.  In addition, Pennsylvania DEP maintains a Waste Oil Program with information and requirements that apply for used motor oil, oil filters, and oil collection sites.

Industrial Stormwater

DEP
All automotive operations in Pennsylvania must manage their operations and property correctly to prevent fluids and waste materials from being exposed to the weather. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, DEP requires all operations to either submit a No Exposure Certification or obtain a permit for Industrial Stormwater. To better help the regulated community understand industrial stormwater permitting and the No Exposure Certification, DEP has created an FAQ document on the subject.

Jeremy Hancher

Jeremy Hancher is the EMAP Program Manager located at the Widener University SBDC.  He holds over 15 years of experience in environmental compliance, environmental policy, and program management.  He is proud to be the team lead of the award-winning EMAP program which provides free and confidential environmental assistance to the Pennsylvania small business community in fulfillment of the requirements of the Pennsylvania Air Pollution Control Act and Section 507 of the federal Clean Air Act.
In 2015, Jeremy was part of the team effort when EMAP was recognized by US EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy for Outstanding Accomplishments by a State Small Business Environmental Assistance Provider in Providing Technical Environmental Assistance to the Small Business Community. Jeremy holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and a certificate from the Wharton School.