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EPA Teams Up with NASCAR’s Jeff Gordon in the Race to Clean Air

Release Date: 11/06/2009
Contact Information: Dave Ryan Ryan.dave@epa.gov 202-564-7827 202-564-4355

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released a training DVD to help auto body shops comply with a rule reducing air pollution from vehicle painting. This type of pollution, called toxic air emissions, can cause smog, cancer or other serious health effects.

The DVD, hosted by NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon, includes steps body shops can take to comply with the rule, while improving worker protection and saving the shops money. EPA produced the DVD in both English and Spanish as a supplement to the EPA paint rule training workshops being held for shop owners and employees in many parts of the country.

In December 2007, EPA issued a rule requiring reductions in air toxic emissions from auto body shops that use spray application to paint cars or that use paint strippers containing a toxic substance called methylene chloride. The rule applies to auto painting operations that are smaller emitters, as well as those that emit larger amounts of air toxics. Existing shops must comply with the rule by January 2011; new shops have to comply by 180 days after startup.

More information on ordering the DVD and training workshops: https://www.epa.gov/collisionrepair