The Automotive Service Association has launched a new section on its legislative website, www.TakingTheHill.com. The Clean Air Watch section can now be accessed from the home page of TakingTheHill.com and contains important bills, regulations and noteworthy items that pertain to clean air. Air quality is an increasingly important issue to the automotive repair community. Legislation and policies designed to improve air quality greatly affect ASA and the automotive industry. Therefore, ASA believes it is important to monitor such issues and keep ASA members and the public informed on clean air information.
ASA and independent repairers support clean air programs that improve air quality. Among other regulations, ASA supports the new automotive refinishing policy released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Jan. 9, 2008. This regulation called for equipment and training restrictions for those engaged in the surface coating of motor vehicles and mobile equipment that are an area source of hazardous air pollutants.
Additionally, ASA supports vehicle emissions testing requirements. Currently, federal law does not require all states to use the vehicle emissions testing programs. Emissions testing is only required in limited areas of the United States that have had problems meeting health-based air quality standards. These standards typically do not account for vehicles, located where emissions tests are not required, driving through and polluting areas that have more stringent air quality standards. ASA believes there is a need for a national vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance (I/M) program to ensure the best possible level of air quality.
These issues, along with many others, will be updated in the Clean Air Watch section.
To view the Clean Air Watch section of ASA’s legislative website, visit www.TakingTheHill.com. Clean Air Watch can be found on the left menu on the home page.
The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind dedicated to and governed by independent automotive service and repair professionals. ASA serves an international membership base that includes numerous affiliate, state and chapter groups from both the mechanical and collision repair segments of the automotive service industry. ASA’s headquarters is in Bedford, TX.
ASA advances professionalism and excellence in the automotive repair industry through education, representation and member services. For additional information about ASA, including past news releases, go to http://www.ASAshop.org, or visit ASA’s legislative website at www.TakingTheHill.com.