A few weeks ago auto dealers in Orange County received a summons from Superior Court regarding improper wastewater disposal of wash water from pressure washing and steam cleaning to storm drains. This newsletter summarizes the issues involved and the steps the dealers must take to ensure environmental compliance. The legal remedy to the summons, though, is best handled by contacting the dealership’s insurance carrier. Typically, the insurance carrier will appoint counsel to represent the dealership. To ensure continued environmental compliance, the dealership must ensure proper disposal of wastewater from the shop area.
Cal/OSHA Adopts New Ergonomic Standard, July 1997
Cal/OSHA’s ergonomic standard has been adopted amid much controversy. The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board adopted on April 17 a simplified regulation to protect employees from repetitive motion injuries (RMIs). Section 5110 of Title 8 of the Californian Code of Regulations (General Industry Safety Orders) requires employers to institute a program designed to minimize RMIs whenever two or more employees doing substantially the same repetitive activity suffer a musculoskeletal injury that a licensed physician attributes to a repetitive motion task performed on the job. This standard is not retroactive and the RMIs must be reported to the employer in the last 12 months.
Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOC) Reclaim Program Discontinued, January 1996
VOC Reclaim Program Discontinued
In late 1995, dealerships in the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) with a bodyshop received a VOC RECLAIM package from the SCAQMD. The package was sent to all facilities that had VOC discharges in excess of 4 tons/year in 1990 or any subsequent year.
The VOC RECLAIM program required the dealership to reduce the amount of VOC emitted to the atmosphere in a phased manner beginning in 1997.
Environmental Affairs, July 1994
Hazardous Waste Management — Cost Analysis
The California Attorney General’s Office has sent several automobile dealers notices regarding deceptive advertising practices being used for hazardous waste disposal charges. The Attorney General’s office is specifically concerned with advertisements (i.e. coupons) that list a price for a service with a notation “Plus Hazardous Waste Disposal.”
Celly Services Inc. 