Autobody Paint Facility Permit Rulemaking - Update and Hearing

From: "Marshall, Karim (DDOE)" <Karim.Marshall@dc.gov>
Date: August 26, 2015 at 5:17:26 PM EDT
Cc: "kmcduffie@dccouncil.us" <kmcduffie@dccouncil.us>, "Jackson, Gregory N (EOM)" <gregoryn.jackson@dc.gov>, "Hines, Charon (EOM)" <Charon.Hines@dc.gov>, "Gluckman, Judah (EOM)" <judah.gluckman@dc.gov>
Subject: Autobody Paint Facility Permit Rulemaking - Update and Hearing

Dear Commissioners and Concerned Residents:

 

The Council of the District of Columbia (the Council) recently passed two laws that affect business and residents throughout Ward 5. Bill 21-0281 the “Ward 5 Paint Spray Booth Moratorium Emergency Act of 2015” and Bill 21-282 the “Ward 5 Paint Spray Booth Moratorium Temporary Act of 2015” prohibit the permitting of any additional automobile paint spray operations in Ward 5 as well as the issuance of permit renewals for facilities with permits expiring between July 23, 2015 and March 14, 2016. 

 

Mayor Bowser has directed the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) to conduct a comprehensive review of the spray booth permitting process and revise our regulations to address the concerns raised by the legislation. All unpermitted facilities have been directed to cease operations. Any facility with a permit that expires during the moratorium period will be required to cease operations when their permit expires. If any auto body painting occurs at a facility operating without an active permit, they may be subject to fines or other penalties.

 

The moratorium extends through March 14, 2016.  

 

To obtain stakeholder input on the contents of revised regulations, DOEE will host a public outreach meeting on September 29, 2015 at 5:00 p.m.

Department of Energy and Environment

1200 First Street, NE, 

5^th Floor 

Washington, DC  20002

 

All interested parties are welcome to provide input.  Examples of regulation revisions DDOE is considering and seeks input on are as follows:

 

1)    Adoption of more stringent volatile organic compound (VOC) paint content standards currently in place in California and some other states;

2)    Possible VOC emission control strategies such as the use of carbon filters, carbon cartridges, carbon beds, or other control methods;

3)    Emission stack parameters, such as height restrictions;

4)    Paint booth design parameters; or

5)    Any other emission or odor control strategies that might be suggested at the stakeholder meeting.

 

DOEE requests that those planning to attend the meeting notify Mr. William Bolden at 202-535-2250 or william.bolden@dc.gov by September 28, 2015.  Written suggestions may also be submitted by mail to Mr. Bolden at 1200 First Street N.E., 5^th Floor, Washington, DC 20002by September 28, 2015.