Small Resources, Big ResultsSmall Resources, Big Results

N.H. Department of Environmental ServicesN.H. Department of Environmental ServicesPamela H. Sprague, Program CoordinatorPamela H. Sprague, Program Coordinator

September 28, 2005September 28, 2005

““N.H.Green Yards Program”N.H.Green Yards Program”

•Objective: Improve environmental practices at auto recycling yards

•Partners:•N.H. Auto & Truck Recyclers Association•N.H. Pollution Prevention Program

Two Phase ProgramTwo Phase Program

Phase I:Phase I:– Education & Compliance AssistanceEducation & Compliance Assistance– Launched in 2003Launched in 2003

Phase II:Phase II:– Compliance Self-Audit & CertificationCompliance Self-Audit & Certification– Commence in 2006Commence in 2006

Participating Participating YardsYards

About 200 facilities totalAbout 200 facilities total

Facilities that:Facilities that: Dismantle or crush 12 or more end-of-life Dismantle or crush 12 or more end-of-life

vehicles yearly; vehicles yearly; and/orand/or

Store 25 or more end-of-life vehicles longer Store 25 or more end-of-life vehicles longer than 60 daysthan 60 days

Profile of Typical Profile of Typical NH FacilityNH Facility

Less than:Less than:– 5 employees5 employees– 5 acres of land5 acres of land– 500 vehicles stored500 vehicles stored– 500 vehicles 500 vehicles

processed yearlyprocessed yearly Multi-functionMulti-function

– auto bodyauto body– auto repair/serviceauto repair/service– auto salesauto sales

Modest profitsModest profits

Capacity NeedCapacity Need

500,000 registered vehicles in NH are 10+ 500,000 registered vehicles in NH are 10+ years oldyears old

End-of-life vehicles (ELVs) are 7 – 10 years End-of-life vehicles (ELVs) are 7 – 10 years old, on averageold, on average

33% population increase in next 25 years33% population increase in next 25 years

NH needs capacity to recycle 50,000+++ NH needs capacity to recycle 50,000+++ ELVs yearlyELVs yearly

A big job, with big concernsA big job, with big concerns......

Groundwater ContaminationGroundwater Contamination

Surface Water QualitySurface Water Quality

Soil ContaminationSoil Contamination

Air QualityAir Quality

Designing the N.H. Green Designing the N.H. Green Yards ProgramYards Program

Established stakeholder workgroupEstablished stakeholder workgroup Exchanged business knowledge & concernsExchanged business knowledge & concerns Developed auto recycling BMPsDeveloped auto recycling BMPs Identified:Identified:

– Barriers to achieving compliance Barriers to achieving compliance – Measures for overcoming barriersMeasures for overcoming barriers– Available resourcesAvailable resources

Selected “measures” consistent with Selected “measures” consistent with “resources”“resources”

Limited ResourcesLimited Resources

$38,000 grant + 40% state match$38,000 grant + 40% state match

Key Partners:Key Partners:– N.H. Pollution Prevention ProgramN.H. Pollution Prevention Program– N.H. Auto & Truck Recyclers Assoc.N.H. Auto & Truck Recyclers Assoc.

Cutbacks & layoffs mid-streamCutbacks & layoffs mid-stream

Compliance BarriersCompliance Barriers Communication ProblemsCommunication Problems

Financial Limitations & Dis-incentivesFinancial Limitations & Dis-incentives

Physical Working ConstraintsPhysical Working Constraints

““Moving Target” SyndromeMoving Target” Syndrome

Attitude/Lack of Environmental StewardshipAttitude/Lack of Environmental Stewardship

Lack of EnforcementLack of Enforcement

Key Program PrinciplesKey Program Principles

Assume (for now) most people will do the “right thing” Assume (for now) most people will do the “right thing” – Tell them what to doTell them what to do– Tell them “why” (personalize the consequences)Tell them “why” (personalize the consequences)– Identify incentives and resourcesIdentify incentives and resources

Keep it simpleKeep it simple– Make it achievable / incremental cooperative complianceMake it achievable / incremental cooperative compliance– Provide options (performance based / not prescriptive)Provide options (performance based / not prescriptive)– Be outcome-oriented / not process-orientedBe outcome-oriented / not process-oriented

Make it sustainableMake it sustainable– Provide a vision the industry can adopt as its ownProvide a vision the industry can adopt as its own– Instill pride / provide standingInstill pride / provide standing– Build environmental stewardshipBuild environmental stewardship

Phase One…Phase One…Education & Compliance AssistanceEducation & Compliance Assistance

Best Management Practices Best Management Practices (BMPs) information and (BMPs) information and materials—Mailed in materials—Mailed in InstallmentsInstallments

Statewide Workshops and Statewide Workshops and MeetingsMeetings

Confidential Compliance Confidential Compliance Assistance---P2 ProgramAssistance---P2 Program

Phase I Results?Phase I Results? Survey dataSurvey data

– preliminary analysispreliminary analysis

BMP Evaluation ReportsBMP Evaluation Reports– Inspections are now on-goingInspections are now on-going

Voluntary Certification ProgramVoluntary Certification Program– 15% participation15% participation

Technical assistance requestsTechnical assistance requests– P2P2

Complaint investigations / Remedial projectsComplaint investigations / Remedial projects

Green

Yards

Report

Card

Fewer yards are now dismantling vehicles over bare ground and out in the open.

Big improvements are reported re: storage practices for gas and oil

Some positive behavior changes re: preparing vehicles for crushing.

27% report improved tire storage practices by bringing stockpiles into

compliance.

And now… a few case studies And now… a few case studies about being careful what you say…about being careful what you say…

Golly…Was it something

I said?

I listened to what you said and now I listened to what you said and now I always dismantle my vehicles I always dismantle my vehicles

over a concrete pad…over a concrete pad…

I got it! Always store fuel tanks off the I got it! Always store fuel tanks off the ground, in a well ventilated area…ground, in a well ventilated area…

Look! I fixed things so I don’t need Look! I fixed things so I don’t need a storm water discharge permit. a storm water discharge permit.

I’m pretty sure we’re all set… I labeled the gas I’m pretty sure we’re all set… I labeled the gas tank and put a roof over it, plus I keep tank and put a roof over it, plus I keep

absorbent nearby, just like you said.absorbent nearby, just like you said.

Stop by sometime … we built that Stop by sometime … we built that concrete pad you recommended and concrete pad you recommended and

it’s working out swell. it’s working out swell.

We made some important changes here We made some important changes here … now, we always put down a tarp and a … now, we always put down a tarp and a

little Speedee-Dri before draining gas.little Speedee-Dri before draining gas.

What’s Next?What’s Next?

Complete Voluntary Certification ProjectComplete Voluntary Certification Project Adopt rules for Mandatory CertificationAdopt rules for Mandatory Certification Complete BMP Evaluation InspectionsComplete BMP Evaluation Inspections Evaluate results & do “Targeted” OutreachEvaluate results & do “Targeted” Outreach Identify / Inspect / Educate “Non-Notifiers”Identify / Inspect / Educate “Non-Notifiers” Train Municipal OfficialsTrain Municipal Officials Mobile Crusher InitiativeMobile Crusher Initiative Consumer EducationConsumer Education New LegislationNew Legislation

Questions?