FAQ

What are the emission standards for heavy-duty trucks?

This document provides a detailed listing of current and proposed Federal and California heavy-duty and non-road emissions standards for model years 1990 and later.

How can I reduce idling emissions?

Anyone who has driven on interstate highways knows big rigs idle overnight while their drivers sleep. The trucks are kept running to heat and cool the cab and sleeper, mask noises, keep the fuel warm in winter, avoid cold starting and for personal safety.

Instead of letting their engines idle, operators may want to consider using separate devices for cab heating and cooling and engine block warming. Devices on the market include direct-fired burners for cab and engine-block heating, thermal storage devices for heating and cooling and auxiliary power units for heating, cooling and electrical power.

Typically, these devices consume less fuel than a truck diesel engine. Actual savings will depend greatly on individual circumstances. Operators can figure their own savings by using a worksheet available from the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory.

For more information, visit the U.S. DOE's Reducing Heavy Vehicle Idling Web site.

What is the SAE J1667 Smoke Test procedure?

In order to promote consistency among state-operated in-use smoke testing programs, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recommended the use of the SAE J1667 test procedure for highway heavy-duty diesel vehicles.

EPA has also recommended the specific opacity cutpoints of 40 percent for vehicles 1991 and newer and 55 percent for vehicles 1990 and older be used with the SAE J1667 test.

For more information on smoke test procedures, click here.

For more information on smoke opacity cutpoints, click here.

What is EPA’s Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program?
The EPA's Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program provides a variety of information to assist with the deployment of low-emission diesel technologies. The program, which can be found online, contains information on various emission control technologies and funding sources to offset the cost of installing this technology.

EPA initiated the program to supplement its new diesel engine emission standards that take effect in October 2002 and again in 2007. By focusing on vehicles currently in operation, the voluntary program seeks to reduce emissions by retrofitting 100,000 trucks, buses and construction vehicles with commercially available emission control technologies.

The Web site provides a list of technologies that have been verified to reduce emissions from diesel engines and a calculator for estimating the resulting emission reductions. Federal and state funding sources as well as program contacts are also listed on the site.

What is biodiesel?
Biodiesel is a mono-alkyl of long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats.

What is a biodiesel blend (Bxx)?
B99, B20, B2 etc., are blends of biodiesel fuel with petroleum based diesel fuel.

What are some of the benefits of bioheat?
There are many benefits to using bioheat. Bioheat helps heating oil burn cleaner. Bioheat is a natural renewable resource. Once blended with today's lower sulfur heating oil, the resulting product burns just as reliably and efficiently as conventional oilheat in your present heating system. Any modification, if needed, is likely to be as simple as a technician replacing a seal or gasket.

Are there any special delivery requirements needed?
No. Bioheat can be delivered to your storage tank in the customary manner.

What is ethanol?
Ethanol is "ethyl alcohol," 200-proof grain alcohol. An ethanol plant produces fuel-grade ethanol, and that ethanol is then blended in a percentage with gasoline to make a finished motor fuel.

Terminology is important because the term "ethanol" means different things to different people:

Different definitions of "ethanol" can lead to confusion, such as the misunderstandings that "a special vehicle is required to run on ethanol" or that "ethanol is only available at a small portion of the nation’s gas stations." In these cases, people say "ethanol" but actually mean the alternative fuel E85.

Will my vehicle run on ethanol-blended fuel?
All vehicles are "ethanol-capable" and can use a blend of up to 10% ethanol. This "E10" is a blend of 10% ethanol / 90% unleaded gasoline and is the most common way ethanol is sold to motorists. Since the 1980s, all automakers have covered the use of up to 10% ethanol under warranty, and no engine modifications are necessary to use E10. E10 is a cleaner burning fuel than straight gasoline.

Can ethanol blends be used in small engines, such as boats, lawnmowers, or chainsaws?
Yes. Manufacturers of small engines realize that up to a 10% blend of ethanol is very common in gasoline, so they make their engines compatible with this fuel.

What is E85? How do I know if my vehicle can use it?
E85 is not gasoline, but rather an alternative fuel comprised of 85% ethanol / 15% unleaded gasoline for use in Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFVs). These vehicles are truly "flexible" in that their owners have a choice whether to use E85, any blend of ethanol up to that 85% level, or straight unleaded gasoline. On some models this comes as an option, and on some it is a standard feature.

To identify whether a vehicle is flexible fuel, check the owners manual and inside the gas cap. Also, visit www.ethanol.org/e85.html to link to a complete list of FFVs.

How and where do I report a spill?
The National Response Center is the sole national point of contact for reporting all oil, chemical, radiological, biological, and etiological discharges into the environment anywhere in the United States and its territories. Click on the banner below to get contact information for the National Response Center .

Click here to go to the National Response Center

What are the incident reporting requirements?
When are Hazardous Materials most hazardous? When they're released!

The scene of an incident can be chaotic, so the right actions may not always be obvious. Whom should I inform if I'm involved in an incident where a release or a suspected release of a hazardous material has taken place in transportation?

The regulations in 49 CFR 171.15 and 171.16 govern such situations. Two phases of incident reporting are required in the regulations. Section 171.15 covers immediate telephonic notification following an incident and §171.16 outlines written reporting procedures. Both sections are available on the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety's Spills Web site.

Also available are the Incident Report Form 5800.1, a guidance document for preparing incident reports, the 2000 Emergency Response Guidebook and tabular summaries of hazardous materials incidents by mode, year, state, hazard class, etc.

When and how do I report a potentially hazardous chemical release?
The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act were enacted by Congress to provide citizens with information on chemicals, their uses and releases at facilities across the nation and to provide the government with immediate notice to appropriately respond to releases.

Most importantly, these laws are intended to ensure that federal, state and local emergency responders have vital information that will help them prepare for emergencies and protect the public by managing chemical risks which may be posed by a company's chemicals being used.

Section 304 of EPCRA and Section 103 of CERCLA require facilities to immediately notify emergency responders about accidental chemical releases so that federal, state and local governments can respond to the situation. Accidental hazardous chemical releases create risk of significant and potentially lethal injuries. Without timely knowledge of a release, emergency responders cannot do their job - that is, working with industry to prevent or mitigate actual or potential harm to human health and the environment following a release of hazardous chemical

The regulated communities must do more than just give notice. Their obligation to protect citizens and the environment also requires them to continually work to prevent accidents. Prevention is always preferred to emergency response.

As part of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, Congress enacted Section 112(r)(1), the "General Duty Clause," to help prevent accidental releases of certain hazardous chemicals.

The General Duty Clause makes it clear that facilities that handle hazardous chemicals bear the primary responsibility for ensuring safe use. This clause applies to every facility that handles any hazardous chemicals, regardless of the quantity on site.

The General Duty Clause states that: "The owners and operators of stationary sources producing, processing handling or storing [extremely hazardous substances] have a general duty … to identify hazards, which may result from releases using appropriate hazard assessment techniques, to design and maintain a safe facility taking such steps as are necessary to prevent releases and to minimize the consequences of accidental releases, which do occur."

In addition to every facility's obligation to operate safely, companies with large volumes of hazardous chemicals specified by EPA must also develop and implement a risk management program. The program must cover hazard assessment, prevention and response for the chemicals stored or processed on site. EPA recognizes the ongoing need to promote safe operating practices and is committed to its efforts to work with companies on the improvement of their safety management programs. Building cooperation among companies, regulatory agencies and the community is fundamental to the success of these programs.

What are my responsibilities regarding Underground Storage Tanks (USTs)
An underground storage tank system is a tank and any underground piping connected to the tank that has at least 10 percent of its combined volume underground. The federal UST regulations are designed to reduce the chance of releases from USTs, detect leaks and spills when they do occur, and secure a prompt cleanup.

UST owners and operators are responsible for reporting and cleaning up any releases and, in the event of a leak or spill, are responsible for paying the costs associated with cleaning up releases and compensating third parties.

The greatest potential hazard from a leaking UST is that the petroleum or other hazardous substance can seep into the soil and contaminate groundwater, the source of drinking water for nearly half of all Americans. A leaking UST can present other health and environmental risks, including the potential for fire and explosion.

Until the mid-1980s, most USTs were made of bare steel, which is likely to corrode over time and allow UST contents to leak into the environment. Faulty installation or inadequate operating and maintenance procedures also can cause USTs to release their contents into the environment.

The UST regulations apply only to underground tanks and piping storing either petroleum or certain hazardous substances. In practice, nearly all USTs contain petroleum and are used by marketers who sell gasoline to the public (such as service stations and convenience stores) and non-marketers who use tanks solely for their own needs (such as fleet service operators and local governments).

State UST programs approved by the U.S. EPA are allowed to operate in lieu of the federal program and EPA's state program approval regulations set standards for state programs to meet. States may have more stringent regulations than the federal requirements.

What are some safe fuel handling practices I can follow?
Safe handling of fuel is everyone's responsibility. You can take steps to ensure that your own safety and health, as well as that of those around you and the environment, are protected.

Improper handling of fuel can result in serious injury or death caused by fire, explosion or asphyxiation. Fuel released into the environment can contaminate soil and groundwater resulting in costly cleanups. Contaminated groundwater supplies may sicken people and animals that unknowingly drink the polluted water.

Some very simple steps can alleviate many of these problems. Here are some examples of what you can and should do to ensure safe fuel handling.

UST Owners and Operators
Federal regulations under 40 CFR Section 280.30 describe actions that UST owners and operators must take to prevent accidental spills and overfills. When a delivery is being made to fill an UST, the owner and operator has the responsibility to:

It's a good idea to physically measure (don't rely solely on automated devices) the level of fuel that is already in the tank before beginning preparations to re-fill the tank. To be safe, measure twice and double-check your calculations (have someone else check your calculations as well). During re-filling, the delivery person should never leave the tanker unattended while fuel is being transferred. It is important to take extra precautions up front and avoid costly and potentially disastrous accidents.

Additional information about proper filling procedures may be found in the National Fire Protection Association Publication 385. Further guidance on spill and overfill prevention appears in American Petroleum Institute Publication 1621, "Recommended Practice for Bulk Liquid Stock Control at Retail Outlets" and National Fire Protection Association Standard 30, "Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code."

Why is Leak Detection so Critical?
All regulated tanks and piping must have release detection so that leaks are discovered quickly before contamination spreads from the UST site. You must provide your UST system with release detection (often also called "leak" detection) that allows you to meet three basic requirements:

What do I do to clean up UST System Releases?
EPA's federal underground storage tank regulations require that contaminated UST sites must be cleaned up to restore and protect groundwater resources and create a safe environment for those who live or work around these sites.

Petroleum releases can contain contaminants like MTBE and other contaminants of concern that can make water unsafe or unpleasant to drink. Releases can also result in fire and explosion hazards as well as produce long-term health effects.

Contaminated UST sites vary considerably. Some are very contaminated sites at which groundwater resources have been adversely impacted and may involve years of cleanup activities that can cost more than $1 million. Other sites may involve relatively minor or no groundwater contamination that may allow cleanup contractors to restore the site more quickly and at less cost. Some contaminated sites have impacted only surrounding soil and have not involved groundwater - these are generally easier and less expensive to clean up. The average cleanup cost for a contaminated UST site is about $125,000.

Several methods have been successfully used for over a decade to clean up thousands of sites. Often the specific characteristics of the site (its type of soil, proximity to groundwater and so on) make it a better candidate for some cleanup methods rather than others.

A contaminated site will need a site characterization (also referred to as "site assessment" as the terms are used interchangeably) that can help professionals choose the best cleanup method. Professional cleanup contractors base their decisions on site-specific investigations and with local environmental agency approval. In some cases, state or federal regulators take the lead at a contaminated UST site and will make all the cleanup decisions.

What is the Biodiesel and Ethanol (VEETC) Tax Credit?

The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-357) created tax incentives for biodiesel fuels and extended the tax credit for fuel ethanol. The biodiesel credit is available to blenders/retailers beginning in January 2005. It also established the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC), which provides ethanol blenders/retailers with $.51 per pure gallon of ethanol blended or $.0051 per percentage point of ethanol blended (i.e., E10 is eligible for $.051/gal; E85 is eligible for $.4335/gal). The incentive is available until 2010.

Section 1344 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 extended the tax credit for biodiesel producers through 2008. The credits are $.51 per gallon of ethanol at 190 proof or greater, $1.00 per gallon of agri-biodiesel, and $.50 per gallon of waste-grease biodiesel. If the fuel is used in a mixture, the credit amounts to $.0051 per percentage point ethanol or $.01 per percentage point of agri-biodiesel used or $.0050 per percentage point of waste-grease biodiesel (i.e. E100 is eligible for $.51 per gallon)

What is the Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit?

Section 1341 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 provides a tax credit to buyers of new alternative fuel vehicles placed in service as an alternative fuel vehicle after January 1, 2006. The legislation provides for a tax credit equal to 50% of the incremental cost of the vehicle, plus an additional 30% of the incremental cost for vehicles with near-zero emissions (SULEV or Bin 2 for vehicles <14,001 lb GVWR). The IRS has issued two notices to establish rules for manufacturers and qualified vehicle buyers to claim the credit.

The credit is available on the purchase of light-, medium, and heavy-duty vehicles and fuel-cell, hybrid, and dedicated natural gas, propane, and hydrogen vehicles. Light-duty lean burn diesel vehicles are also eligible.

For non-tax-paying entities, the credit can be passed back to the vehicle seller. The tax credit can be applied to vehicle purchases made after December 31, 2005. The credit expires December 31, 2010.

IRS Notice 2006-9, issued in January 2006, establishes procedures for manufacturers to certify to the IRS that a vehicle meets requirements to claim the credit and the amount of the credit for which the vehicle is eligible.

IRS Notice 2006-54, issued in June 2006, extends the Qualified Alternative Fuel Motor Vehicle (QAFMV) tax credit to vehicle conversions. This IRS guidance states that new or used vehicles, placed in service as alternative fuel vehicles after January 1, 2006, qualify for the tax credit when the conversion system manufacturer has received a certificate of conformity from the EPA or California Air Resources Board. This guidance also establishes that manufacturers (conversion system installers) must provide certification to the IRS that a vehicle is eligible for a tax credit. The IRS must then provide the manufacturer with acknowledgement that a vehicle qualifies for the credit. The credit is taken by the buyer of a vehicle, and IRS Form 8910 should be used to claim the credit. The credit cannot be sold or transferred but can be carried forward by the seller for use in later years.

This legislation replaces the Clean Fuel Vehicle Property Tax Deduction previously available to purchasers.

What is the Hybrid Motor Vehicle Credit?

Section 1341 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 provides a tax credit for light-duty hybrid vehicles (<8,501 lb GVWR) based on their improved fuel economy and their life-time fuel savings potential. The IRS will certify vehicles for the credit and publish qualifying credit amounts as vehicles are certified.

The fuel economy portion of the credit is based on the following efficiency gains over model year 2002 baselines.

The conservation credit increases the fuel economy credit based on the following lifetime fuel savings:

To qualify for the credits, the vehicles must meet at least Bin 5 standards if they are up to 6,000 lb GVWR, or Bin 8 standards if the vehicles are 6,001 lb-8,500 lb GVWR.

Heavy-duty hybrid vehicles are subject to the following incremental cost limitations:

This tax credit replaces the tax deduction previously available to purchasers under the Clean Fuel Vehicle Property guidance. This tax credit expires December 31, 2010.

The IRS issued guidance to automobile manufacturers in January 2006. Specifically, this notice provides procedures for a vehicle manufacturer to certify to the Internal Revenue Service both that the vehicle meets certain requirements for the credit and information to calculate the amount of the credit allowable with respect to that vehicle. See Notice 2006-9.

What is the Fuel Cell Motor Vehicle Credit?

Section 1341 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 provides a base tax credit of $8,000 for the purchaser light-duty fuel cell vehicles (<8,501 lb GVWR). The $8,000 credit is valid until December 31, 2009. After that, the credit is $4,000. To qualify, the vehicles must meet at least Bin 5 Tier II emission levels.

Base tax credits are also available for medium- and heavy-duty fuel cell vehicles. The Internal Revenue Service will determine the credit amount based on a sliding scale by vehicle weight. The credit is available until December 31, 2014.

For tax-exempt entities, the credit can be passed back to the vehicle seller. December 31, 2014.

What is the Electric Vehicle Tax Credit?

A tax credit for the purchase of qualified electric vehicles is provided under Section 179A of the Energy Policy Act of 1992; it was extended through 2007 by the Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2004. IRS Form 8834 can be used to calculate the credit for qualified electric vehicles placed in service. The credit amount equals 10% of the cost of the vehicle up to $4,000. This credit is scheduled to be reduced by 75% in 2006 and expire in 2007. To qualify for the credit, the vehicle must be powered primarily by an electric motor drawing current from batteries or other portable sources of electricity. All dedicated, plug-in-only electric vehicles qualify for the tax credit, which is available for business or personal vehicles. A tax deduction of up to $100,000 per location is available for qualified electric vehicle recharging property used in a trade or business.

What is the Small Agri-Biodiesel Producer Credit

Section 1345 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 allows a tax credit of $.10 per gallon to small agri-biodiesel producers for up to 15 million gallons. To be eligible, a producer must make less than 60 million gallons of biodiesel per year.

What is the Small Ethanol Producer Credit?

Section 1347 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 changes the definition of a “small ethanol producer” to include a production capacity of up to 60 million gallons (instead of the up to 30 million gallons originally established by Congress in 1990).

Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Tax Credit

Section 1342 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 provides a tax credit equal to 30% of the of cost alternative refueling property, up to $30,000 for business property. Qualifying alternative fuels are natural gas, propane, hydrogen, E85, or biodiesel mixtures of B20 or more. Buyers of residential refueling equipment can receive a tax credit for $1,000. For non-tax-paying entities, the credit can be passed back to the equipment seller. The credit is effective on equipment put into service after December 31, 2005. It expires December 31, 2009 (hydrogen property credit expires in 2014)

This legislation also extends the Tax Deduction Timeline that was established by EPAct 1992, Section 179, and extended by the Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2004.

In May 2006, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published Form 8911, which provides a mechanism to claim the infrastructure tax credit. Owners who install qualified refueling property on multiple sites can utilize the credit for each property. The instructions define what is considered qualified property and the value of the credit. See IRS Form 8911.

What is the RCRA and what does it cover?
Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, you are required to follow certain practices and procedures associated with the safe management of hazardous waste.

RCRA in Focus provides an overview of the basic federal regulations covering wastes that are likely to be hazardous in your business. It also provides recycling and pollution prevention options to help businesses decrease the amount of hazardous waste they produce.

Click here for EPA's RCRA in Focus Web site, including publications on Motor Freight and Railroad Transportation and Vehicle Maintenance.

Are there special rules for small businesses when it comes to hazardous waste and its disposal?
EPA's user-friendly manual is targeted to small quantity generators of hazardous wastes. The manual helps small businesses determine whether they generate hazardous waste and provides comprehensive information on how to comply with the federal hazardous waste regulations for small quantity generators. It explains how to obtain an EPA identification number, manage hazardous waste on site, ship hazardous waste off site, comply with land disposal restrictions and conduct good housekeeping.

What do I do with batteries, pesticides, thermostats, and lamps?
Universal wastes are generated in a wide variety of settings by a large number of facilities, including residences and offices, and may be present in significant volumes in non-hazardous waste management systems. The Universal Waste Rule currently applies to batteries, pesticides, thermostats and fluorescent lamps.

The main focus of the rule is to provide the residential, commercial, and industrial generators of these hazardous wastes more freedom in transporting, collecting, and handling the wastes. The ultimate goal is to reduce the waste stream through increased recycling and reuse of these materials.

Specifically, the Universal Waste Rule encourages recycling by streamlining the requirements related to notification, labeling, marking, prohibitions, accumulation time limits, employee training, responses to releases, offsite shipments, tracking, exports, and transportation. Their shipment does not require a hazardous waste transporter and manifesting is not required.

How should I dispose of used antifreeze?
Many vehicle maintenance operations generate used antifreeze. Before use, antifreeze is not considered a hazardous waste. However, after antifreeze goes through a radiator it may become contaminated by fuel, oils and metals. Many of these contaminants, particularly metals and benzene, are toxic and may cause the used antifreeze to exceed one of the hazardous waste definitions thresholds.

Antifreeze would be considered hazardous if it were mixed with a hazardous waste such as solvent or gasoline. Antifreeze could also be hazardous if has picked up enough metals to be characterized as hazardous for metals content (>5 ppm lead for example) or if the pH > 12.5. Have your antifreeze tested for the hazardous waste characteristics if you are unsure of the waste antifreeze characteristics.

What about repair of A/C Systems?
Repairing vehicle air conditioners includes adding, removing, and recycling CFC refrigerants and performing general maintenance on vehicle air conditioners. CFC refrigerants destroy ozone in the upper atmosphere. Therefore, refrigerants are not allowed to be knowingly vented into the atmosphere.

Refrigeration service activities are regulated under the Clean Air Act which is designed to prevent ozone depletion by requiring the capture and recovery of used refrigerants, the use of certified recycling equipment and the training and certification of all operators.

What do I do with used batteries?
Batteries contain acids, lead and other pollutants that may escape to nearby surface waters or percolate into groundwater sources when improperly stored or disposed. Vehicle batteries should never be disposed of with routine solid waste. Battery recycling agreements should be in place with your battery supplier.

Recycle batteries by sending them to a reclaimer or back to the distributor. Keeping shipping receipts can demonstrate that you have recycled. Store batteries in a watertight, acid-resistant container. Inspect batteries for cracks and leaks when they come in. Treat a dropped battery as if it were cracked. Acid residue is hazardous because it is corrosive and may contain lead and other toxins. Neutralize spilled acid (e.g. by using baking soda or lime) and dispose of as hazardous waste.

Storage of batteries may be regulated under the storm water provisions of the Clean Water Act which requires batteries be contained and covered to prevent potential leaks from coming in contact with the storm water. Facilities with a fleet of vehicles may be required to implement Clean Air Act requirements associated with alternatively fueled vehicles.

Who manages the requirements for disposal of vehicle fluids?
Changing vehicle fluids includes oil, transmission, hydraulic, brake and antifreeze changes and lubricating greases. Changing vehicle fluids also includes the storage of new and waste fluids, management or disposal of waste fluids and disposal of oil-contaminated debris such as oil filters, empty oil cans/containers, oily rags and clean-up supplies (dry-rite, kitty-litter, floor sweepings).

Fluids generally are drained from the vehicle to a pan or bucket placed below the vehicle. Full pans or buckets are then dumped into a larger container such as a 55-gallon drum, underground storage tank or aboveground storage tank prior to off-site disposal.

The primary environmental impact from fluid changes is potential surface and groundwater contamination resulting from spills or improper disposal of fluids and solid debris. Storage of new materials may be regulated under the Spill Prevention and Countermeasure Controls provisions of the Clean Water Act. SPCC requirements generally include providing secondary containment for all storage tanks and drums.

Storage, recycling and disposal of waste fluids are regulated under the used oil provisions of Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The used oil provisions require that used oil is stored in structurally sound containers labeled with the words used oil only and ultimately recycled or burned for heat.

Fluids disposed or spilled in floor drains, surface drains, or otherwise released from facility property are regulated under the National Pollutant Discharge Effluent System, pretreatment or storm water provisions of the CWA. These provisions require notification of EPA, the state or a local treatment plant, complying with permit provisions and prevention of untreated fluids from reaching surface waters. Fluids stored in underground tanks are regulated under the UST provisions of RCRA which require the tanks maintain spill prevention and leak detection devices and be made of specified structurally sound materials.

What is used oil and how do I dispose of it?
Used oil is exactly what its name implies, any petroleum-based or synthetic that has been used. During normal use, impurities such as dirt, metal scrapings, water or chemicals can get mixed in with the oil so in time the oil no longer performs well. Eventually, this used oil must be replaced with virgin or re-refined oil to do the job correctly.

If you are one of the many people who change their own motor oil, you need to know how to properly dispose of the used oil. Did you know the used oil from one oil change can contaminate 1 million gallons of groundwater if dumped down a storm drain?

What do I need to know about vehicle painting?
Painting operations generate both solid and hazardous wastes including waste solvent, paint, sandblasting grit and rags and can also produce air emissions and discharges to wastewater treatment plants.

Vehicle painting often is conducted in an enclosed room or booth which has positive pressure ventilation to assure that paint fumes leave the room, rather than being inhaled by the painter. To minimize air pollution, air filters are placed in the vents and changed regularly.

Vehicle painting also includes changing and disposing these filters. If significant quantities of paints containing hazardous materials are used or if the local government is located in a designated geographic area, air emissions from painting operations may be regulated under the Clean Air Act which may specify the type of ventilation system and the frequency at which filters must be changed.

Disposal of air filters, waste paints and thinners are regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Preparing a vehicle for painting (e.g. stripping, sanding) may also be regulated under RCRA because such activities may result in a hazardous waste.

I have a few tires at home, how can I recycle them?
You may be able to return surplus tires to either a tire retailer or a local recycling facility that accepts tires. Be sure to confirm that the facility accepts tires for recycling and check for quantity and size limitations. Some local municipalities will also periodically conduct "tire amnesty days" when any local citizen can bring a limited number of tires to a drop-off site free of charge. For more information, or if you have large numbers of scrap tires, contact your local solid waste management agency.

During normal vehicle repair and maintenance activities, vehicle fluids may drip or spill or otherwise enter floor drains or sinks in service areas. These fluids may include engine oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid, hydraulic fluid, antifreeze, chlorinated or non-chlorinated parts-cleaning solvents and degreasers.

If your facility has an onsite disposal system (e.g., a dry well or septic system), these fluids can introduce various toxic chemicals into sources of drinking water.

Generally, motor vehicle waste disposal wells are floor drains or sinks in service bays that are tied into a shallow disposal system. Most commonly, these shallow disposal systems are septic systems or drywells, but any underground system that receives motor vehicle waste would be considered a motor vehicle waste disposal well.

A variety of names are used to describe shallow disposal systems including cesspools, catch basins, sink holes, underground vaults or drain tanks, to name a few. A motor vehicle waste disposal well is a type of Class V injection well.

New motor vehicle waste disposal wells were banned nationwide as of April 5, 2000. Existing motor vehicle waste disposal wells were banned in ground water protection areas and other sensitive ground water areas. States or EPA may waive the ban and allow owners and operators to obtain a permit.

Can you tell me about the requirements and standards for transportation equipment cleaning?

Summary

EPA has published a final Effluent Limitations Guidelines, Pretreatment Standards and New Source Performance Standards for the Transportation Equipment Cleaning Point Source Category. This regulation establishes technology-based effluent limitations guidelines for the discharge of pollutants into waters of the United States and into publicly owned treatment works by existing and new facilities that perform transportation equipment cleaning operations.

Effluent Limitations Guidelines

Effluent limitations guidelines are national regulations that establish restrictions on the discharge of pollutants to surface waters or to publicly owned treatment works by specific categories of industries. The requirements are developed by EPA based on the application of specific process or treatment technologies to control pollutant discharges.

Although the guidelines are developed based upon particular technologies, EPA does not require dischargers use these technologies. Individual facilities may meet the requirements using whatever types of treatment technologies and process changes they choose.

Background
Transportation equipment cleaning facilities generate wastewater from cleaning the interior of tank trucks, closed-top hopper trucks, rail tank cars, closed-top hopper rail cars, intermodal tank containers, inland tank barges, closed-top hopper barges, ocean/sea tankers and other similar tanks (excluding drums and intermediate bulk containers) used to transport materials or cargos that come into direct contact with the tank or container interior.

Scope of Regulation
EPA has established effluent limitations for facilities discharging to surface waters in the following subcategories:

EPA has established pretreatment standards for facilities discharging to POTWs in the following subcategories:

Wastewaters Covered by Guideline

The wastewater flows covered by the rule include all contact washwaters which have come into direct contact with the tank or container interior including pre-rinse cleaning solutions, chemical cleaning solutions, and final rinse solutions. Additionally, the rule covers wastewater generated from washing vehicle exteriors, equipment and floor washings and TEC contaminated wastewater at those facilities subject to the TEC guidelines and standards.

What are the pretreatment requirements for waste water?
The General Pretreatment Regulations establish responsibilities of federal, state and local government, industry and the public to implement Pretreatment Standards to control pollutants from the industrial users which may pass through or interfere with publicly-owned treatment works treatment processes or which may contaminate sewage sludge.

POTWs collect wastewater from homes, commercial buildings and industrial facilities and transport it via a series of pipes, known as a collection system, to the treatment plant. Here, the POTW removes harmful organisms and other contaminants from the sewage so it can be discharged safely into the receiving stream. Certain industrial users who discharge waste water to POTW may be subject to pretreatment standards.

UST Owners and Operators Federal regulations under 40 CFR Section 280.30 describe actions that UST owners and operators must take to prevent accidental spills and overfills. When a delivery is being made to fill an UST, the owner and operator has the responsibility to: