Regulatory Information

Knowing the waste regulations, much less understanding them is very difficult. My one technical assistance responsibility here at MnTAP is the vehicle maintenance industry and after years I'm still learning or relearning information about the regulations. Rules help keep the playing field level, help you manage your collected waste properly and keep things from getting out of hand. Without question, vehicle maintenance shops have a lot of regulated waste types because of fluids, chemicals and paints used, and you want to stay on top of your requirements.

MnTAP focuses on the prevention of wastes and leaves the regulatory enforcement and interpretation to the authorized agencies.

Waste rules for solid waste, hazardous waste, air emissions and water discharges mostly come through the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). These rules may be federal or state rules.

This MPCA Web page has a list of resources on environmental rules affecting the vehicle maintenance industry. Many of the waste topics have audit checklists to help you determine how your shop is performing.

Environmental regulatory contacts Find contacts for the MPCA, seven Twin Cities metropolitan country hazardous waste offices, wastewater services and others.

Health Workers in autobody shops are potentially exposed to a variety of chemical and physical hazards. Chemical hazards may include volatile organics from paints, fillers and solvents; silica from sandblasting operations; dusts from sanding; and metal fumes from welding and cutting. Physical hazards include repetitive stress and other ergonomic injuries, noise, lifts, cutting tools, and oil and grease on walking surfaces. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Department of Labor, has web resources for Autobody Repair and Refinishing covering industry hazards, controls, compliance and most common citations.

Material Safety Data Sheets The Autobody Pro Web site offer general information on Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) and links to manufacturer MSDSs online.

Shipping Rules Shipping materials or wastes requires compliance with the U.S. and Minnesota Department of Transportation rules. Find information on shipping hazardous materials and trainings on this Web site.

Aside from the wastes in drums, you have trash in your Dumpster, stormwater run-off, wash water and more. There are also rules for the air emissions you create during cleaning with solvents or during painting. Below are some additional links to answers to some of these common topics.

[If you can't find something here, chances are you will find what you need in the A - Z waste list on the menu]

Air regulation basics
Air Emissions Registration Permits
Air emissions registration permits greatly simplify the permit application process for facilities to make it easier to comply with the air emissions rules.

Air Quality Rules Affecting Autobody Shops with Paint Spraying Equipment This MPCA fact sheet helps shops that spray paint determine if they need an air emissions permit, and if so, what type of registration permit is needed.

Air-Quality Requirements for Automotive Repair Shops This MPCA fact sheet helps automotive repair shops determine if they need an air emissions permit, and if so, what type of registration permit is needed.

Automotive paints banned in Minnesota April 2000, the Listed Metals Advisory Council recommended to the MPCA Commissioner that six automotive finish paints be prohibited from distribution for sale or use in Minnesota, following a 2-year phase-out period.

Septic Tank Systems Auto service businesses with septic tank systems (Class V injection wells) need to follow the regulations for injection wells in order to protect underground sources of drinking water from contamination.

Floor trenches
Floor Drain Systems Basic utilities usually are not thought about until a problem arises. Plumbing systems typically function for many years without needing attention. This fact sheet gives tips on preventing plumbing problems. It covers basic information about floor drain systems and separators and includes simple maintenance ideas.

Managing Floor Drains and Flammable Traps This fact sheet discusses recommended waste management options for floor drains and flammable traps. Keeping hazardous substances out of drains and plumbing makes trap wastes easier and cheaper to manage.

Oil/Water Separators Oil/water separators can be costly to maintain, and if not properly managed can pollute surface and ground water leading to costly violations. Take steps to minimize the effects of your oil/water separator on your shop's budget and the environment.

Washing
Sewering Liquid Waste This fact sheet provides guidance to businesses generating any liquid waste that might be discharged to a drain system.

Underground Injection Control Program: Class V Rule U.S. EPA has requirements for motor vehicle waste disposal wells and large capacity cesspools as part of the Class V rule

Floor Cleanup Minimize the impact of wastewater regulations on your shop by adopting a dry shop goal. A dry shop is a shop that has sealed all its floor drains.The methods and equipment presented in this fact sheet will help you reduce floor wash water volume and contamination.

Washing outside
Pressure Wash/Power Wash Discharges To legally discharge pressure-washer wash water, an NPDES permit is needed for each discharge location. Most NPDES permitted process water discharges require treatment and analysis of the discharge.

What are the Requirements for Vehicle Washing? This Green Truck fact sheet outlines what is defined as vehicle washing and how its wastewater should be managed.

Wastes—half used supplies Step 1: Evaluate Waste; Determine Generator Size.

Waste in small amounts
VSQG Collection Program Requirements for Generators Minnesota hazardous waste rules allow Very Small Quantity Generators (VSQGs) to deliver their own waste in their own vehicle to a licensed VSQG collection program.

Storm-Water Program for Industrial Activity The objective of this permitting program, which is a part of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, is to reduce the amount of pollution that enters surface and ground water from industrial facilities in the form of storm water runoff.

Waste regulation basics
Basic Hazardous Waste Requirement for Businesses Anyone who produces or manages a waste must determine whether or not the waste is hazardous. Hazardous waste requires special handling and disposal. This fact sheet outlines the 10 steps to compliance.

Waste in small amounts over a whole year
Requirements for Minimal Generators Learn what the requirements are for minimal generators in Minnesota, businesses that generate 100 pounds of hazardous waste or less per year.