- Businesses
- Gas Stations
- Asbestos & Demolition
- Outdoor Fires
- Wood Stoves & Fireplaces
- Mobile Spray Coaters
- Natural gas and propane stoves and fireplaces can be used during burn bans and power outages.
Mobile Spray Coaters
Compliance assistance
Q. In what geographical area do these rules apply?
A. Only in King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish Counties.
Q. What do these mobile spray coating rules require?
A. In a nut shell, they require that businesses performing small-scale auto body spray coating outside of a spray booth conduct their operations different than an auto body shop. The rules include the following restrictions: (1) no more than 8 ounces of coating per vehicle, (2) no more that 9 square feet of surface that can be prepped/taped off or spray coated, (3) spray coating no more than 5 consecutive days or 14 days in any calendar month at any one site. See attached rule summary for more information.
Q. Why were these regulations developed?
A. First, they provide a legal framework for small-scale auto body repair and spray coaters to operate outside of a spray booth – and still minimize environmental impact. Second, the rules establish a level playing field for mobile spray coaters, removing the economic advantage of operating illegally.
Q. I’m an automobile dealer. These rules are for mobile spray coaters. Why do I need to know about them?
A. (1) If any of your employees perform spray coating of vehicles outside of a spray booth, these rules apply to you. (2) If you hire an auto body spray coater who operates outside of a spray booth, you need to know that they must register with the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and they must provide you with a copy of their current registration before starting work. (3) Along with the spray coater, you can be liable for violations.
Q. Are these rules in effect now?
A. The rules were adopted by the Clean Air Agency Board of Directors in March 2007 and go into effect on September 1, 2007.
Q6. How will oversight of these rules be conducted? Will regulators be interfering with my automobile business looking for violators?
A. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency will be developing an inspection strategy focusing on illegal spray coaters. The Agency will also be providing compliance assistance and routine oversight that is likely to include educational materials for mobile spray coaters and car dealers, responding to complaints, and periodic inspection of mobile spray coating operations. Car dealerships that ensure auto body spray coating is conducted legally will likely never even see us.
Q. What happens if the mobile spray coating firm I’ve been using in the past does not provide me with a copy of his registration after September 1, 2007? Am I legally required to ask for the document? Further, what if he is not registered with the Clean Air Agency and I failed to ask him for his registration? Does this situation present liabilities for me?
A. While a car dealer may have no legal obligation to ask a mobile spray coater for a copy of his registration, it is in your best interest to do so. An automobile dealer can be held liable for hiring a mobile spray coater that does not comply with agency regulations, including being registered with the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.
Q. Where can I find a list of mobile spray coaters that are registered with the Clean Air Agency?
A. Go to the Clean Air Agency web site (www.pscleanair.org) and enter mobile spray coaters in the search function box – upper right corner of the home page (list of spray coaters will be available by July 30, 2007).
Q. What happens to a mobile spray coater found violating these new rules while conducting operations on my car lot? Am I also liable?
A. The mobile spray coater can be issued a Notice of Violation along with the property owner or person hiring the violator. A monetary penalty would be likely if an economic benefit was realized for not securing necessary permits or for not using required equipment. Further, a gravity component would be added to the economic benefit as a deterrent to future violations.
Q. How much are Puget Sound Clean Air Agency permit fees?
A. The clean air agency assesses mobile spray coaters a one-time permit fee of $2,200 and an annual registration fee of $120.
