The Coordinating Committee For Automotive Repair (CCAR) announces that 59 Auto Repair of Plainfield, Ill., has become the first automotive service facility to receive the organization's GreenLink Shop recognition.

"After recognizing more than 100 collision repair facilities as GreenLink Shops since the program's launch last year, we are proud to introduce 59 Auto Repair as the first automotive service shop to earn this achievement," says Daren Fristoe, CCAR President and Chief Operating Officer. "Our GreenLink Shops are at the forefront of the industry's commitment to environmental/safety awareness and stewardship in their daily operations."

"All of our team - from the receptionists to our technicians - participates in recycling, safety and being good stewards to our environment," says Richard Brauer, Owner and President of 59 Auto Repair. "I am happy to celebrate their hard work, and the GreenLink Shop program was designed to do that. I am very proud of all of our team members and what they do."

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The Paint Rule impacts automotive body shop painting operations that use paint that contain Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs). This rule will not regulate hobbyists or facilities using paints that do not contain the listed HAPs. Notification of full compliance status is due by March 11, 2011. The journey begins with these two steps:

Step 1: Compliance

At this point, all collision repair facilities should be in compliance with the NESHAP 6H Rule and verified that your auto body shop has the appropriate state air quality permit in place. This permit is generally required to conduct a paint operation and emit air pollution in any given state. It is usually obtained at the start of operation, or at such time that the shop becomes aware an air permit is required in its state.

Action Item: Verify or obtain the appropriate state air permit for auto body painting in your state.

Step 2: Final Notification Form to Governing Agency by March 11, 2011

Shops subject to the requirements of the Paint Rule must make FINAL NOTIFICATION to the local governing agency or regional EPA by March 11, 2011.

Some Final Notification Forms are available by state and are to be completed and submitted to the applicable agency or agencies by the deadline. (Some states require the form to be submitted to the state Air Quality Division and the Regional EPA Office.) Many states did NOT accept NESHAP authority, so Final Notification forms should be sent to the regional EPA office. See State Delegation List at: http://www.epa.gov/collisionrepair/pdfs/statedelegations.pdf 

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With the 16 shops that have received recognition as GreenLink Shops from the Coordinating Committee For Automotive Repair (CCAR) this month, the total roster of GreenLink Shops now stands at 125. 

The GreenLink Shop status, an extension of CCAR's CCAR-GreenLink Environmental Compliance Assistance Center and S/P2 Safety and Pollution Prevention E-learning Program, is designed to promote consumer confidence in local automotive repair facilities' environmental/safety awareness and stewardship.

The new GreenLink Shops are:

• Advanced Collision, Inc., Chattanooga, Tenn.
• Auto World Specialists, Honolulu, Hawaii
• Capital Collision Center, Olympia, Wash.
• CollisionMax of Glassboro, Glassboro, N.J.
• CollisionMax of NE Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa.
• CollisionMax Supercenter, Pennsauken, N.J.
• CollisionMax of Warminster, Warminster, Pa.
• Consolidated Auto Service Center, Inc., Forest Park, Ill.
• Guardian Collision Center, North Hollywood, Calif.
• Lacey Collision Center, Lacey, Wash.
• Marathon Collision Center, Summerville, S.C.
• Mike Rose's Auto Body, Inc., Concord, Calif.
• Mike Rose Auto Body, Inc., Pittsburg, Calif.
• Modern Auto Body, Glendale, Calif.
• Randy's Collision Repair Center, Inc., Warner Robins, Ga.
• West Coast Collision Center, Holiday, Fla.

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