The Official Publication of the Wisconsin Auto Collision Technicians Association Ltd. Summer 2016

www.grecopublishing.com

PLUS: WACTAL Scholarships Awarded

Are You Ready for OEM Certification?

The Most Important Tool in Your Toolbox:

WACTAL MEMBERSHIP

Summer 20162

3Summer 2016

2016-2018 WACTALBOARD of DIRECTORS

PresidentLarry TerrienMJ Collision Centerlarry@mjcollisioncenter.com

Vice PresidentMark WilliamsWilliams Auto Bodymark@williamsautobody.com

Secretary/TreasurerRonnie GossGoss Auto Body, Inc.ronnie@gossautobody.com

TreasurerSue BlackDean’s Auto Bodysuzieq@deansautobody.com

DirectorsJames BryhanBryhan's Body & Paint Specialists

Eileen HabermanGlen's Auto Body, Inc.

Mike MiyagawaM & M Auto Body Inc.

Michael TaylorZimbrick Chevrolet-Sun Prairie

Tracy BlackDean’s Auto Body, Inc.

Association AdministrationSue Petersonwactal@execpc.com / info@wactal.com(800) 366-9482

LobbyistJolene Plautzjplautz@aol.com

Wisconsin Automotive News is published quarterly by Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc., 244Chestnut Street, Suite 202 Nutley, NJ 07110. Distributed free to qualified recipients; $48 toall others. Additional copies of Wisconsin Automotive News are available at $5 per copy.Reproduction of any portions of this publication is specifically prohibited without written per-mission of the publisher. The opinions and ideas appearing in this magazine are not neces-sarily representations of Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc. or of WACTAL. Copyright © 2016 byThomas Greco Publishing, Inc. Cover image © www.istock.com

Summer 2016 Vol. 3, Number 4

ADVERTISER’S INDEX

PUBLISHED BY: Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc.

244 Chestnut St., Suite 202 Nutley, NJ 07110

PHONE: 973-667-6922 • FAX: 973-235-1963

ADVERTISING: 973-667-6922 • alicia@grecopublishing.com

PUBLISHER: Thomas Greco (thomas@grecopublishing.com)

SALES DIRECTOR: Alicia Figurelli (alicia@grecopublishing.com)

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Lea Velocci (lea@grecopublishing.com)

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Joel Gausten (joel@grecopublishing.com)

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Chloe Durante (chloe@grecopublishing.com)

OFFICE MANAGER: Donna Greco (donna@grecopublishing.com)

www.grecopublishing.com

Axalta Coatings........................................OBCBody Shop Supply Co. ............................6Buerkle Hyundai ......................................13Dent Clinic ..............................................8Dentsmart ................................................12International Autos Waukesha..................5

LKQ..........................................................IBCMorrison’s Auto Parts ..............................4P&L Consultants......................................11Straight and Square ................................9West Bend Mutual Insurance ..................IFCZorn Compressor & Equipment ..............13

CONTENTSPRESIDENT’S MESSAGE........................................................5Are You Ready for OEM Certification?by Larry Terrien

LOCAL NEWS WACTAL Scholarships Awarded................................................7by Chloe Durante

WACTAL MEMBER BENEFIT SPOTLIGHT ......................................9West Bend Mutual Insurance Company

TALKING TECHNICAL ................................................................10Why Scanning Mattersby Larry Montanez III, CDA & Jeff Lange, PE

FEATURE STORY ....................................................................14Providing a Future For the Collision Repair Industry: Inside the Benefits of WACTAL Membership

ENVIRONMENTALLY SPEAKING ....................................................16Auto Body Shops May Petition USEPA for an Exemption from the Auto Body Refinishing Ruleby Renee Lesjak Bashel, WI DNR Small Business Environmental Assistance Program

WACTAL BENEFIT PROGRAM ..................................................17

WACTAL MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION ........................................18

Summer 20164

5Summer 2016

I recently attended the SCRS Affiliate LeadershipConference in Seattle this past April. SCRS affiliates fromaround the country get together bi-annually to discuss trends inthe industry and topics affecting state associations.

One of the highlights of the meeting was a panel discussionwith representatives of some of the major auto manufacturers.Some of the manufacturers represented were Toyota, Audi-Lamborghini, Tesla and Jaguar-Land Rover. They discussedrepairability of today’s vehicles and the importance of factory-specific training for repairs. Due to the complex constructionmethods and the variety of alternative materials used (alu-minum, carbon fiber, ultra-high strength steels, etc.), factory cer-tification training is required for many of the new models. Somemanufacturers are even restricting parts sales to only certifiedcollision repair facilities.

There was also a discussion on the costs of these certifica-tion programs. The average cost of a four-day factory certifica-tion can run upwards of $10,000 to $20,000, with some pro-grams lasting two weeks and costing much more than that. Then

there are the staggering costs of tools, equipment and facilitymodifications that are required for these programs. These costs,combined with the pricing of the programs themselves, can runupwards of $250,000 or more. In addition to all of these initialinvestments, shops must stay up-to-date. Most of these certifica-tion programs require the added costs of annual re-certifications,which often involves re-inspection of the facility by the manu-facturer.

The panel members agreed that, because of these factors,they are seeing more and more of a segmented industry betweenthe shops that obtain factory certifications and those that do not.So how will this affect your business? Are you ready to makethe commitment for OEM certification?

Larry TerrienPresident

Are You Ready forOEM Certification?

WAN

President’sMESSAGE

Summer 20166

7

LocalNEWS

For nearly 20 years, WACTAL has been awarding annual scholar-ships to dedicated students pursuing careers in collision repair inWisconsin. With over 35 scholarships being given to deserving studentsover the years, the association’s “desire to offer financial assistance forpost-secondary education to young people” will continue to grow.

Each scholarship is valued at over $5,000—which includes $2,000towards tuition and a $3,667 set of tools, donated by Snap-onCorporation headquartered in Kenosha. As in past years, the associa-tion worked with the Foundation of the Wisconsin Automobile & TruckDealers (WATDA) to determine who would receive the scholarship for2016. This year, the competition was so stiff that WACTAL decided tohonor two worthy candidates. This year’s recipients were Jacob Falkand Ivan Gomez.

According to WACTAL Administrator Sue Peterson, “WACTALknows that GPA isn’t the end all be all—some students just do not doas well as others in high school, but you put them in a hands on tradeprogram and they can really excel. We really look at the whole personwhen ranking potential candidates—not only their intellectual abilities,but their dependability, leadership skills and most importantly their moti-vation and desire to learn.”

Jacob Falk graduated from Lomira High School in June of thisyear and will be attending Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton thisfall. Jacob was lucky enough to have been offered on-the-job trainingand mentoring at Dreher Collision Center, Inc. in Brownsville.

“Jacob is so excited and I can’t even tell you how proud he is tohave been therecipient,” noted arepresentativefrom the manage-ment team ofDreher CollisionCenter. Jacob hasbeen with DreherCollision Centersince he was 12years old and over

the years, he hasproven that he isthe one they cancount on. Healways asks ques-tions about some-thing he’s unsure ofand always gets thejob done—correctly.

“He’s not afraidto get his handsdirty—to make

something good out of something that was junk,” they added. “He’s justa great kid—very fair, calm, respectful and honest. On top of that, he’spretty smart, too.”

In a thank you letter to WACTAL, Jacob said, “Thank you forchoosing me as the recipient for this scholarship—I am so excited tolearn and apply these new skills in my career.”

Because the association offers this scholarship to not only stu-dents fresh out of high school, but also to adults already working in theindustry who are looking to advance their knowledge and training, IvanGomez was chosen as the second recipient. Ivan is a second year stu-dent enrolled in the Auto Collision Repair & Refinishing program, alsooffered at Fox Valley Technical College. In addition, Ivan will also bereceiving on-the-job training, but from Kolosso Chrysler Dodge JeepRam.

“I am so thankful for this scholarship as it gives me the financialsupport I need in reaching my goal of earning a technical diploma inAuto Collision Repair & Refinishing,” said Gomez in a thank you letterreceived by WACTAL. “Since there are so many tools and equipmentrequired for these classes, the awesome tool kit will be put to great useand be used for many years to come.”

Working part-time and going to school full-time simultaneously canbe challenging for anyone; however, Ivan is so pleased that all of hishard work has finally begun to pay off. After graduation next spring,Ivan plans to work in the Fox Valley area so that he can service hiscommunity.

For more information on WACTAL scholarships and their member-ship benefits, please visit www.wactal.com/?s=scholarship.

2016 Robert Author Smith Golf Outing HighlightsOn Thursday, June 30, over 80 golfers gathered at the Irish Waters

Golf Course in Freedom, WI to honor the memory of instructor BobSmith at the Robert Author Smith Memorial Golf Outing.

Presented with support from the Collision Repair EducationFoundation (CREF) and I-CAR, the event was organized to rememberSmith, a visionary for advancing collision repair training. The longtimeinstructor at Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton was instrumentalin the creation of the I-CAR Tech Center, and remained a longtime sup-porter and proponent of industry educa-tion. A portion of the proceeds from thisyear’s event will benefit Fox ValleyTechnical College as well as FreedomHigh School.

For more information on futureevents or to find out how you can con-tribute to the Robert Author SmithMemorial Fund, please contact JerryGoodson at (920) 993-5163 or RonnieGoss at (920) 725-2022.

WACTAL ScholarshipsAwarded by Chloe Durante

WAN

2016 WACTAL scholarship winners Jacob Falk (pictured here with Bill Dreher of Dreher Collision

Center) and Ivan Gomez, showcasing his skills in theauto body shop class at Fox Valley Technical College.

Summer 2016

Summer 20168

Summer 2016 9

WACTAL Member Benefit Spotlight: West Bend Mutual Insurance Company

WACTAL’s Business Insurance Program is offered by West Bend Mutual InsuranceCompany through local independent insurance agencies. For those members who are

eligible, the program includes a seven percent discount on garage coverages, plus coverageenhancements unique to the WACTAL program. Although workers’ compensation and

umbrella premiums are not included in the group experience discount plan, participants inthe program may receive dividends on their workers’ compensation coverages.

WACTAL’s Personal Lines (home and auto) Insurance Program: West Bend’s Homeand Highway® program is available to WACTAL member owners and key employees. In

addition to many benefits and discounts, qualifying members who participate in thisprogram will receive an eight percent association discount.

Visit www.thesilverlining.com for an insurance agent near you.

Summer 201610

Every day, we see posts on multiplecollision-related social media sites regard-ing vehicle electronics. We regularlyreceive phone calls from technicians aboutelectronic issues on vehicles they’reattempting to repair. The places we rarelyhear from are the European OEM-CertifiedCollision Repair Facilities (CCRFs). Whyis that? Well, this article offers a possibleexplanation.

A large percentage of American repairfacilities are under-tooled, under-equippedand under-trained to repair modern vehi-cles, and the extensive use of electronical-ly controlled systems adds to this issue.Many shops and technicians assume thatif there is no Malfunction Indicator Lamp(MIL) illuminated, then everything is work-ing properly (just like they assume thatthere is no structural damage if they don’tsee it.) This is not only incorrect, butextremely dangerous and potentially cost-ly. Most of the European OEM CCRFs arenot only trained, but required by theirCCRF program contracts to pre-scan thecollision-damaged vehicles in their shop.Pre-scanning and pre-measuring a vehicleare the two most important procedures to perform prior to writing adamage report (estimate).

Why do you need to perform a pre-scan on collision-damaged vehicles?Today’s automobiles are equipped withmultiple computer-controlled systems thatoversee a variety of safety systems, whichrequire maintenance and updates as partof their normal operation. But in the eventof a collision (and after repairs and/orreplacement of components), the electricalsystems will require resetting or reinitializ-ing to ensure the system is operating cor-

rectly. The Electronic Control Modules(ECMs) operate vehicle systems includingadaptive cruise control (ACC), lane assist,vehicle stability, collision avoidance, blindspot detection, back-up cameras, frontand rear radar, DISTRONIC cruise control,discriminatory SRS, PRE-SAFE, heads-updisplay and more.

What is unknown to most techniciansand insurance companies is that manyvehicles hold diagnostic trouble codes(DTC) or fault codes and history codes. Inmany cases, they may or may not illumi-nate an MIL. Facilities must have theequipment and ability to read these codesto determine if they are a result of the col-lision event or an operational issue prior tothe accident. Once the repairs are com-pleted, a post-scan is required to ensurethat all codes have been identified andcleared and/or other system problemshave been identified. Additionally, systemsoften need a relearn or initializing afterrepairs are completed. If post-scans arenot performed, collision repair facilitiesmay be unaware of any symptoms orinoperative functions. Symptoms willsometimes be noticed by the vehicleowner while operating the automobile,and/or warning lights will illuminate soonafter delivery. This will cause the customerto return to the body shop. Sometimes thevehicle owner will bring his or her vehicleto a dealer for warranty repairs, thinkingthe issue is not accident-related. But aswe all know, the dealer eventually findsout the vehicle was in an accident andthen claims it is related to that collisionevent. Oftentimes, the shop gets involvedand says it can’t be related to the incident,and an argument ensues. The issue with a

particular system is very often related tothe collision event, but many shops do notknow how the system operates, and thisleads to confusion.

Here are examples of problems orinoperative systems that do not illuminatean MIL/warning light:

Auto/express power windowsAuto-adjust mirror functions/curb parkingSatellite radio reception/updatesPassive entry/auto approach entryHands-free calling/bluetooth/voice commandPuddle lamps/approach warningAuto A/C blower functions/ambient temperature climate controlPassenger presence disable/occupant weight system

Let’s look at a few examples of pre-scanning, post-scanning and relearning.Many vehicles require fuel managementsystems to be reinitialized or repro-grammed after certain sensors or modulesare disconnected or replaced.

Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles:After any collision event, these vehiclesrequire a reweighing of the passengerseat Occupant Weight System (OWS) forthe passenger airbag discriminatory sys-tem. Many other OEMs also require thisprocedure. A pre-scan is required to deter-mine what other systems are inoperativeafter a collision event. These include (butare not limited to) seat belt buckles, pre-tensioners and the airbag control module.Many OEMs have procedures for

By Larry Montanez III, CDAand Jeff Lange, PE

TalkingTECHNICAL

Why Scanning Matters

11Summer 2016

“Inspections Required after a Collision”that explain the scanning and testing thatshould be performed (such as static test-ing of the seat belts and checking thesystem for fault codes, and the deployedairbag module mounting areas for mis-alignment, to name a few.)

BMW vehicles equipped with turningheadlamps require a scan and relearn toalign the turning lamps with the GPS andsteering angle sensors after removal,installation or replacement. Additionally,the electric power steering in many BMWmodels requires resetting once it is dis-connected and/or replaced.

Almost every OEM with a guidedback-up camera requires it to be alignedwith the steering angle sensor after thedecklid, tailgate or hatch is removed andreinstalled or replaced. Audi, Porscheand VW vehicles require the parking sen-sors to be aligned after just removingand reinstalling the bumper fascia.Certain Audi and Porsche vehicles haveradar sensors in the fascia that require aspecific aim in procedures after the fas-cia have been removed and reinstalled.Additionally, Audi A8 Ls require a specificAudi computer program to set the rideheight, headlamp aiming, distance con-trol and pre-crash system while thewheel alignment is being performed.Certain equipped Mercedes-Benz vehi-cles require three or four systems reini-tialized after replacement of windshieldglass. These systems can be lane depar-ture, PRE-SAFE and rain sensors.

These are just a few examples.Please remember that checking withOEM repair procedures will allow thedamage assessors to know what needs

to be done. Pre-scanning will also ensurethat any inoperative systems are notedand addressed. Technicians and insur-ance adjusters must understand thatthere will be no so-called “idiot light,”“malfunction lamp” or “warning lamp” illu-minated. If certain systems (such as pre-crash/accident avoidance, distancecruise control and lane departure, toname a few) are not re-aimed, reinitial-ized or reset, a collision event couldoccur due to the vehicle not identifyinganother vehicle or object in its path. This

could be extremely dangerous.We have written about the impor-

tance of sending the vehicle to the dealerafter repairs for these types of systems.We all must remember that vehiclesstarting in the $18,000 range have someof these systems. We can no longerassume and say, “I don’t see any warn-ing lights; it must be all good.” This wayof thinking must stop; it is negligent touse old technology and thoughts on newadvanced systems.

continued on next page

If you were walking around yourhouse and your laptop fell out of yourhands, you would be out of your mindworrying that the laptop may not work,right? You would turn it on and try a fewprograms out (or restart it) and do a scan,right? If a vehicle contains 25-50 comput-ers and modules and it is involved in acollision event, wouldn’t you think the bareminimum you should do is check the sys-tem? There are general scan tools fromOTC and Snap-On that will allow someprogramming and resetting. There is eventhe all-new AsTech2, which works as aninterface to AsTech to read vehicle sys-tems with OEM computers and softwareprograms over the Internet. There aremultiple choices for collision repair profes-sionals. The one choice they don’t have isto neglect making the investment.

A damage assessor who does notpre-measure and pre-scan a vehicle (andcheck with the OEM repair procedures) isnot only negligent, but is also putting theconsumer and the general motoring publicat risk.

Larry Montanez III, CDA is co-owner of P&LConsultants with Peter Pratti, Jr. P&LConsultants works with collision repair shopson estimating, production and proper repairprocedures. P&L conducts repair workshopson MIG & resistance welding, measuring forestimating and advanced estimating skills.P&L also conducts investigations for insurersand repair shops for improper repairs, collisionrepairability and estimating issues. P&L can bereached by contacting Larry at (718) 891-4018(office), (917) 860–3588 (cell), (718) 646–2733(fax) or via email at larrygoju@aol.com. TheP&L website is www.PnLEstimology.com.

Jeff Lange, PE is president of LangeTechnical Services, Ltd. of Deer Park, NY(www.LangeTech.net). Jeff is a Licensed NewYork State Professional Engineer who special-izes in investigating vehicle and component fail-ures. Lange Technical Services, Ltd. is an inves-tigative engineering firm performing forensicvehicle examinations and analysis for accidentreconstruction, products liability and insuranceissues. Jeff can be reached at (631) 667-6128or by email at Jeff.Lange@LangeTech.net.

Summer 201612

WAN

SAVE THE DATE!“Material Caps:

What to Do and Why They Are Illegal”Presented by Tony Passwater, AEII

Wednesday, September 14, 20166pm - 9pm

Weston Lanes - Schofield, WI

For more information, contact the CentralWisconsin Auto Body Association (CWABA)(715) 355-4611 / Brenda@paulspaint.com

13Summer 2016

What’s the most important tool in your toolbox?Like many collision repair professionals, you likely have an array of

equipment, products and instruments that help optimize daily life in theshop. But there’s another tool out there that helps promote the successof you, your facility and the repair industry at large through discounts,incentives, educational programs, advocacy on a legislative level andmuch more. It may not “fit” in a standard toolbox, but membership in theWisconsin Auto Collision Technicians Association Ltd. (WACTAL) is cer-tain to be a perfect fit for you and your shop, as well as a wise invest-ment to secure your success into the future.

Established in 1971, WACTAL was initially formed by a group ofcollision shop owners with a common vision: To promote and enhancethe future of their trade. The association currently represents more than200 collision repair member companies, unifying over 1,000 repairersthroughout Wisconsin.

“For me, the biggest advantage to being a part of WACTAL is inhaving a unified voice as industry members,” notes longtime memberMike Miyagawa (M&M Auto Body Inc., Madison). “The ability to bounceideas off of one another and see what’s trending in my area versusanother shop’s location is hugely helpful in my day to day operations.”

WACTAL currently works to promote the professionalism andlongevity of member shops by offering a number of incentives that helpcut costs, educate consumers and provide opportunities for networking,education and communication. WACTAL members are afforded a vari-ety of exclusive benefits and programs including:

Personal Concierge AppWACTAL member shops are eligible for special pricing on the

Personal Concierge phone app, designed to help prevent insurer steer-ing by informing motorists of their rights before, during and after a colli-sion event. The app explains the repair and claims process, what to do(and what not to do) following an accident, and the importance of con-tacting your preferred shop at the scene of the collision. The app evenfeatures a one-touch dialer that will contact the shop on the consumer’sbehalf.

For more information, visit www.personalconcierges.net (or checkout page 17 of this issue).

Savings on Business ServicesWest Bend Mutual Insurance Company has created an effective

partnership with WACTAL that has been specifically designed to helpmembers save money and even receive dividends, all while using theirown preferred local agent. The WACTAL Business Insurance Programoffers members a seven percent discount on garage coverages, as wellas additional coverage enhancements, presented with the convenienceof being able to do business with a local, independent insuranceagency. As an additional incentive, participants in the program are also

eligible to receive dividends on Workers Compensation coverages.Outside of the shop, West Bend’s Home & Highway policy pro-

gram - available to WACTAL member owners and key employees -offers coverage on valuables outside the business including homes,valuables, RVs, boats, motorcycles and more, all with one premium,one deductible and the member’s preferred local agent. WACTAL mem-bers receive discounted pricing; visit www.thesilverlining.com for furtherinformation.

Summer 201614

FeatureSTORY

Providing a Future For theCollision Repair Industry: Inside the Benefits of WACTAL Membership

WACTAL also helps members strengthen their bottom linesthrough partnerships for both credit card processing during the repairand CSI audits following the job’s conclusion. TSYS Merchant Solutionsis the endorsed provider of an exclusive credit card processing programspecifically designed for association members, offering low rates byusing the collective volume for all members. Contact TSYS’ Wisconsinrepresentative, at (262) 646-0054 for more information or a free rateanalysis. Following the repair, the WACTAL Customer Service Survey(CSS) Program extends the opportunity for members to learn from cus-tomers’ experiences at their shop at a reasonable price.

“We’ve taken advantage of the many WACTAL member benefitsfor years,” notes Board member Ronnie Goss (Goss Auto Body,Menasha). “We receive great savings on our insurance costs throughusing West Bend, and the credit card processing program actuallyhelps to benefit the WACTAL Scholarship Fund [a portion of the fundscollected help fund that intiative]. It’s one of the many ways that WAC-TAL helps itself.

“We also participate in the CSS Program, which I find tremendousvalue in,” Goss continues. “It’s so easy and requires so little effort; we

hand out postcards (provided by WACTAL) to customers, who thencomplete and return the survey to the association. We are notified oftheir responses immediately, which allows us to contact them rightaway and maintain communication. I hope WACTAL members are tak-ing advantage of this program - and all of the great benefits offeredthrough the association.”

For those members looking to revamp, create or enhance theirweb presence, the association has fostered a relationship with FoxValley Web Design LLC to provide special pricing to WACTAL members

in the areas of web design, hosting, social media marketing and otherdigital services. FVWD offers a number of services including searchengine optimization (SEO), email setup, social media promotion andmore. To learn more, visit www.foxvalleywebdesign.com.

In addition to the aforementioned benefits, WACTAL members areprivy to a number of additional perks including The Consumer’s Guideto Auto Collision Repair (a brochure available to members for in-shopdistribution), a membership sign, access to the current WACTAL mem-bership directory and a free subscription to Wisconsin AutomotiveNews, the official publication of the association. Members and support-ers alike are also offered regular opportunities to better themselvesthrough training and educational events throughout the year, includingthe association’s annual Convention every spring.

“The convention is one of the most valuable aspects of member-ship,” adds Miyagawa. “There are always a lot of new ideas presentedand discussed, and attendees are given a great deal of important infor-mation on what’s happening in and around the industry just by attend-ing.”

Part of WACTAL’s mission to further the professionalism of itsmembers and the industry includes diligent advocacy fighting for theissues affecting shop owners throughout the state and beyond. Theassociation’s work with lobbyist Jolene Plautz - not to mention grass-roots efforts by the WACTAL board itself - has yielded impressiveresults, including the recent signing of The Auto Body Shop Choice Billinto law in November 2015. Senate Bill 93 “prohibits an insurer thatissues a motor vehicle insurance policy that covers repairs to a motorvehicle from: 1) requiring that repairs must be made by a particular con-tractor or repair facility as a condition of that coverage; or 2) failing toinitiate or conclude with due dispatch an investigation of a claim forrepairs on the basis of whether the repair will be made by a particularcontractor or repair facility.” This anti-steering bill also establishes that“a consumer has the right to select the motor vehicle repair facility ofhis or her choosing.”

WACTAL’s efforts extend beyond assisting the current workforce toalso offer a helping hand to future technicians. To date, the associationhas awarded over $50,000 in scholarships to “offer financial assistancefor post-secondary education to young people preparing for a career incollision repair.” This year, the association awarded not one but twodeserving recipients with scholarships to help further their careers.More information on the 2016 winners and the program itself can befound on page 7.

With so many challenges facing today’s collision repair profession-als, there has never been a more important time to band together as aunited industry. With the backing of hundreds of voices and a variety oftremendous member benefits, you simply cannot afford to not be aWACTAL member in order to remain successful now and into the future.So what are you waiting for? Contact the WACTAL office today at (800)366-9472 or complete and return the membership application on page18. Invest in the multi-faceted tool of WACTAL membership, and alignyourself with a group working tirelessly to ensure the future success ofthe collision repair industry.

15Summer 2016

WAN

The US Environmental ProtectionAgency (USEPA) has a rule – also calledthe Auto Body Refinishing rule –which reg-ulates hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) fromPaint Stripping and Miscellaneous SurfaceCoating that affects auto body refinishingshops nationally. This rule includes anexemption for shops that do not use anypaints containing compounds made withthe heavy metals cadmium, chromium,lead, manganese and nickel.

Since the rule was first issued in 2008,many paint manufacturers have madechanges to nearly all of their paint lines andremoved the HAPs listed in the rule. Itmight be a good idea to review your paintlines to see if they no longer contain theheavy metal HAPs. A shop owner canreview their paints and figure out whetherthey are exempt in one of the followingways:

• Review all of their current paint Safety Data Sheets (SDS) on their own,

• Check with their paint vendor to see if the paint lines they purchase have the listed HAPs, or

• Go to the Auto Body Shop webpage provided by the National Small Business Environmental Assistance Programs and look for the “6H petition for exemption resources” link available at http://tinyurl.com/ztcy4g3. (The “6H petition for exemption resources” file is a list of all paint manufacturers with links to webpages where they post information on paint lines that no longer contain the HAPs.)

In order to be considered exempt fromthe rule, a shop must first petition USEPAby filing a Petition for Exemption; USEPAprovides an example form, available athttp://tinyurl.com/zu2xpbt.Wisconsin

shops should submit this form, or similarinformation in another format, to the EPARegion V address provided at the end ofthe form. Wisconsin Department ofNatural Resources does not process theserequests.

Once USEPA Region V approves thePetition for Exemption, the shop mustensure that new paints or paint lines thatthey purchase do not contain any of theHAPs for as long as the shop conducts col-lision repair activities. This can be particu-larly important with specialty paint requestsfrom a customer; be sure to have a conver-sation with the paint vendor before com-pleting any new paint purchase.

It is important to note that if paintswith heavy metal HAPs are used, the shopmust use only allowed equipment orprocesses for paint application, paint over-spray control, and paint gun cleaning, aswell as ensure their painters are trainedevery five years. For information on thepainter training requirements, refer to theSummer 2015 edition of the WisconsinAutomotive News. Switching to water-based coating systems does not automatical-ly exempt facilities from the rule require-ment; some water-based coatings may con-tain the listed metal compounds in theirpigments.

For more information on the AutoBody Refinishing Rule, visit the WisconsinSmall Business Environmental AssistanceProgram web page at http://tinyurl.com/hsuzazq, USEPA’s rule information webpage atwww.epa.gov/ttn/atw/6h/6hpg.html, or theCollision Repair Campaign page with train-ing and additional resources:www.epa.gov/collision-repair-campaign.

Summer 2016

EnvironmentallySPEAKINGby Renee Lesjak Bashel, WI DNR Small

Business Environmental Assistance Program

Auto Body Shops MayPetition USEPA for an

Exemption from the AutoBody Refinishing Rule

WAN

17Summer 2016

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19Summer 2016