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Regulations for Auto Paint Shops in Georgia

In 2008 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed into law what is known as "Rule 6H." The law regulates hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) in the automobile and light duty truck surface coating industry. According to Georgia's Small Business Environmental Assistance Program, regulations help "...reduce the emissions of certain HAPs from the spray application of coatings and from paint stripping using products containing methylene chloride." The EPA informs auto paint shops how the regulations must be Implemented.

  1. Initial Notification

    • In order for Georgia to comply with the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants, all automotive paint shops in the state must file an Initial Notification form with the EPA. The Initial Notification form is actually divided into sections: Initial Notification (Part A), Notification of Compliance Status (Part B) and Annual Notification of Changes (portions of Part A and B). The auto paint shop -- referred to as the "area source" -- must provide details about its location in Part A.

    Notification of Compliance Status

    • There are three areas to the "B" section of the form. Area B.1 is for indicating the current compliance status of the auto paint shop. Whether the shop in Georgia is a new or existing area source, it may not be in compliance with Rule 6H. An existing area source is one that has been paint stripping or surface coating prior to September 17, 2007. If a location does not yet meet emissions standards, section A and B.1 of the form can be submitted, pending compliance and submission of the other completed areas by the March 2011 deadline.

    Compliance Certification

    • If a Georgia auto paint shop is already in compliance with regulations, it can answer accordingly and complete Part B.1 and B.2 of the Compliance Certification area. It is mandatory that a certifying official attest to the Compliance Certification area in B.2. Part B.3 of the form only applies to paint stripping operations that use in excess of 1 ton of Methylene Chloride per year. If this applies, the area source must certify that it is implementing a Methylene Chloride Minimization Plan, per Rule 6H regulations.

    Annual Notification of Changes

    • Georgia automotive paint shops are required to submit details about Notification of Changes. In accordance with state and federal regulations, this should be done each year on or before March 1, if the initial information that was previously submitted changed within the year. This includes any deviations from the required information already provided. Part A.7 of the Annual Notification of Changes segment only applies to those who have made changes to the amount of Methylene Chloride used in the previous calendar year.

    Exemption From Regulation

    • Rule 6H allows an area source shop owner or operator to petition the EPA for an exemption. Exemptions may be granted if the sprays and paint materials the shop uses do not contain the type of HAPs that are targeted by the regulations.

      According to Georgia Small Business Environmental Assistance Program, exemptions include, "Surface coating or paint stripping activities that are covered under another area source NESHAP regulation." Those interested in obtaining an exemption can contact the Georgia Small Business Environmental Assistance Program online or by calling 877-427-6255.

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